Overview

• The American Library Association (ALA) and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) have filed a lawsuit in federal court to block the Trump administration's efforts to dismantle the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).
• The lawsuit seeks a preliminary injunction to prevent the dismissal of IMLS staff and the cancellation of federal grants, arguing these actions require congressional authorization.
• The legal challenge emphasizes that only Congress has the constitutional authority to dismantle federal agencies, not the president acting unilaterally.
• A parallel lawsuit has been filed by attorneys general from 21 states in Rhode Island, further contesting the administration's actions against IMLS.
• This legal battle reflects broader concerns about significant cultural funding cuts under the Trump administration, including the elimination of over 1,200 grants by the National Endowment for the Humanities.