Two months ago, March 14th, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order titled “Continuing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy” (Executive order 14238). According to an article by Jurist News this directive would aim to “significantly reduce the operational scope, assigned personnel, and funding for seven federal agencies.”
One of which is the Institute of Museums and Library Services (IMLS). Originally created by Congress in 1996, the IMLS was meant to help support museums and libraries through grants, research, and policy development so that they may better serve their communities. According to PBS, aside from this, IMLS also funds a wide range of programs for things like technology updates, literacy initiatives, and community services in libraries/museums.
These things, while important on their own, when looked at closer reveal just how pivotal the IMLS is. For example other services provided by them include things such as accessibility tools for those with disabilities, early childhood programs, digital resource access, and the preservation of cultural materials.
This order instructs agencies to scale back operations as well as instructing the Office of Management and Budget to to reject funding requests from IMLS (all except cover costs needed for closure). As a result, this has led to the terminations of grants, suspension of contracts, and significant staff layoffs.
The fear for many right now is that this will heavily impact these institutions, as well as the communities they serve (especially smaller and more rural ones), which could leave many at risk of closing down, and the dismantling of IMLS altogether.
Though recently, legal action has been taken, with a federal court issuing a temporary restraining order preventing the administration from terminating IMLS staff or shutting down the agency while the lawsuit is reviewed, which happened May 1st, 2025. With the ALA (American Library Association) urging the public to take action by contacting legislators, spreading awareness, and supporting the legal efforts being taken.
