With so much going on in government, now is the time to take stock of progress on library priorities, particularly when it comes to federal funding and the upcoming budget showdown. Here’s where things stand with federal budgeting for FY2026.
Regular appropriations
Most years, to avert a government shutdown, Congress passes 12 separate spending bills (or a temporary continuing resolution that continues the prior year’s budget) by the start of the next fiscal year on October 1. This work historically starts after the president submits a budget request, which appropriators typically largely reject. As expected, President Trump’s proposed budget for next year calls for eliminating the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and many programs within the Department of Education, including the school library–focused Innovative Approaches to Literacy grant.
With narrow majorities in both congressional chambers, Republicans are finding out quickly that they may not have enough votes to get FY2026 spending bills across the finish line. Most legislation needs 60 votes to pass the Senate. Both chambers are starting to work on spending bills. The House is expected to pass a bill closer in tone to the president’s request, while we can expect the Senate to seek bipartisan compromise in the hopes of gaining some Democrats’ support. The White House is pressuring Republicans to support cuts. This is where the American Library Association’s (ALA) work to Show Up for Our Libraries and support library funding is key.
This summer, we’re watching how closely Republicans adhere to the Trump administration’s proposed budget cuts, as well as how willing Democrats are to negotiate on spending bills. Many expect that Republicans have made negotiations unlikely—and that a government shutdown could occur this fall.
Proposed recissions
The US Constitution (Article I, Section 9) clearly establishes that Congress has the power of the purse, stating that no previously allocated federal funds can be altered or eliminated without congressional say-so. A sitting president can delay spending on some programs but must ultimately spend agreed-upon funds or formally ask Congress to rescind this spending.
On June 3, the Trump administration asked Congress to rescind $9.4 billion in funding. This recission package, which has already passed the House and now sits before the Senate, would fully eliminate funds to public broadcasting and international development programs. This package is not large in relation to the federal budget, and does not directly affect libraries, but it may signal the White House’s funding power over the 119th Congress and portend more recission packages that might affect library funding.
Many view the package as a betrayal of agreements made to complete the current year’s budget, which may complicate FY2026 budget negotiations. If recissions are approved by the mid-July deadline, we may see more packages that include cuts to libraries or other critical programs.
The reality of reconciliation
Will the recent and highly controversial reconciliation package (the One Big Beautiful Bill Act) cut library funding? The short answer is no. The Act that was recently signed into law does not contain provisions directly connected to library funding and does not directly affect the appropriations process. Library funding is considered discretionary spending (not mandated by law) and thus is ineligible to be included in the package. Reconciliation rules allow the Senate to bypass traditional rules (like the filibuster threshold of 60 votes), but the package must meet certain criteria.
A major concern is that the current version of the reconciliation package adds trillions to the deficit, which will force difficult funding choices down the road. Letting representatives know that library funding is a top constituent concern is one of the most important ways we can ensure that previously allocated library funding doesn’t suffer.
Reauthorization of IMLS
So what about the status of IMLS related to its reauthorization? Congress has two types of legislation: authorization and funding. An authorization is when a congressional committee creates the framework and responsibilities of a federal agency or program and recommends a funding level. Appropriators have the ultimate say in the actual funding level. Authorizations expire after a few years, and Congress needs to review them. When a program or agency authorization has expired, funding can (and often does) continue. The current authorization for IMLS was signed into law in 2018 and expires later this year, although that does not mean funding for the agency must stop.
In the courts
ALA provided an update June 6 on the two court cases addressing the status of IMLS. Since then, a July 8 US Supreme Court decision has added some confusion. Just after Independence Day, the Supreme Court lifted a lower court order freezing the firing of federal workers.
Does this mean mass layoffs for IMLS and other federal employees? Not quite. It is important to note that the court did not rule on the legality of firing federal workers. It did allow the Trump administration to continue implementing some layoffs until a case comes before the Supreme Court that deals specifically with the legality of the administration’s workforce reduction plans. This may seem like splitting hairs, but the high court is taking a cautious approach and has reserved the right to rule on the larger legal questions later. That later ruling may require federal agencies to rehire fired employees.
What’s next?
Frankly, almost anything is on the table. Government shutdowns, extreme budget cuts, agency closures, and wide-ranging censorship are all possibilities. ALA is working at breakneck speed to proactively defend libraries and related programs while judiciously calling on our advocates to respond with speed when needed.
Right now, it’s important for constituents of House and Senate Appropriations Committee members to take action. If you haven’t yet made a call or sent a message to your elected officials, you can use this link to support library funding today. And if you aren’t represented by someone on an appropriations committee, it’s just as important for you to keep contacting your representatives using the action pages and other resources from ALA to Show Up for Our Libraries, today and every day.
