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2mo ago

Trump Administration Moves to Dismantle Federal Museum and Library Agency

Executive order targets the Institute of Museum and Library Services, raising concerns over cultural preservation, education, and community impact.

A Wichita Falls Public Library van was set up during the city of Wichita Falls Parks and Recreation Kids Fishing Rodeo at Plum Lake on Saturday, March 15, 2025.
The building which houses the offices of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), is seen, Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
A person wearing a shirt covered in books holds a copy of the novel "Fahrenheit 451" while protesting in support of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), Thursday, March 20, 2025, outside the IMLS in Washington, after hearing that DOGE had shown up to the office. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
A man enters the building that houses the offices of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Overview

  • President Trump’s executive order calls for reducing the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to statutory functions, with non-mandatory components to be eliminated.
  • The IMLS, established in 1996, provides over $266 million annually in grants to libraries, museums, and cultural institutions, supporting underserved and rural communities.
  • Keith Sonderling, recently appointed as acting director of IMLS, is tasked with overseeing the agency’s operations under the guidance of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency.
  • Advocacy groups, including the American Library Association and the American Alliance of Museums, warn of severe consequences for education, cultural preservation, and community programs if the agency is dismantled.
  • The legality of the executive order is under debate, as the IMLS was created by Congress and cannot be fully eliminated without legislative action.