Particle.news
Download on the App Store
9 ARTICLES
·
last mo.

Trump Orders Dismantling of Federal Museum and Library Agency

The Institute of Museum and Library Services faces an uncertain future as its functions are scaled back and new leadership takes charge following an executive order.

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 mandates the reduction of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to its statutory minimum functions, eliminating non-mandatory components.
  • Keith Sonderling, recently confirmed as Deputy Secretary of Labor, has been appointed as acting director of the IMLS, signaling a shift in priorities for the agency.
  • The IMLS, established in 1996, is the only federal entity dedicated to supporting museums and libraries, distributing $266.7 million in grants in 2024 to sustain cultural, educational, and community programs.
  • Advocacy groups, including the American Library Association and the American Alliance of Museums, warn that the move could harm rural and underserved communities that rely heavily on federal funding.
  • The future of existing grants and new funding remains unclear, with federal employees at the IMLS expecting administrative leave in the coming days.