The federal government shutdown, which begins today, will have cascading effects across the nation and our economy. For one, it will pause federal programs and slow support for services that many Americans rely on every day. This morning, ALA members and other library workers at the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), Library of Congress, Government Publishing Office and other federal agencies have been pulled away from their work. Their income and employment have been put at risk, and the libraries and users who use their services are missing access to them. But in a larger sense, the inability of our nation’s leaders to agree on priorities demonstrates that our government has failed.
While compromise appears elusive, Capitol Hill insiders of every persuasion expect the Trump administration to take unprecedented actions during the shutdown. These may include mass reductions in force, shuttering federal offices, and ending disfavored programs. Last week, the administration directed agencies to prepare lists of employees to fire. We have already seen repeated efforts by the administration to close the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the Department of Education (ED), both of which may face new attacks in the coming weeks.
How did we get here?
The federal fiscal year (FY) begins today, October 1. Congress failed to pass—and the president did not sign—the 12 appropriations bills required to keep the federal government open. If any or all bills have not passed, Congress must pass a continuing resolution (CR) to provide temporary funding that enables the affected federal agencies to continue their work. If a CR is not enacted, these agencies must cut back or cease operations.
As none of the 12 bills have passed, a shutdown has begun. While the US Constitution explicitly grants appropriations powers to Congress, the White House is choosing to spend taxpayer dollars as it sees fit. The Republican majority in Congress has not opposed this approach and has uniformly rejected compromises offered by Democrats, who are unwilling to provide the needed votes in the Senate.
Does everything stop?
Not everything in the federal government suddenly comes to a stop on October 1. Functions funded through mandatory spending—for example, Social Security checks and Pell Grants—will continue, as will activities that, if suspended, would immediately threaten the safety of human life, the protection of property, or would infringe upon the constitutional responsibilities of the president.
It is incumbent upon each federal agency to provide guidance on its operations during a shutdown, with direction from the Office of Management and Budget and the White House. The Library of Congress, for example, posted an advisory on its website about how the shutdown affects its staff and activities, and we expect IMLS, ED, and other agencies to do the same.
What does this mean for libraries?
One possible scenario is that the Trump administration renews its efforts to shutter IMLS and ED, even though federal courts have blocked such attempts earlier this year. A government shutdown increases the vulnerability of federal programs, as executive actions may seek to reduce or even eliminate them—especially under a president eager to assert his power.
If the government shutdown is brief, libraries, library staffers, and library students may experience relatively minimal disruptions.
- Funding to state libraries through the Library Services and Technology Act’s Grants to States program might be impacted if allocated funds had not been drawn down by October 1 even as states had been notified that FY2025 funding has already been approved. State authorities may not have access to their funds due, in part, to the absence of staff to facilitate access to FY 2025 funds.
- Grant funding already administered by the ED will be unaffected, but staffers will be unavailable to respond to inquiries. The media has reported that the ED has been canceling, delaying, and repurposing grants.
- Pell Grant disbursements will continue as an essential service. In 2018, the ED’s Federal Student Aid office provided guidance in the event of a closure, stating “there will be minimal impact on students, borrowers, schools, lenders, and guaranty agencies.”
- The Library of Congress as well as libraries and school libraries on federally owned land (such as military bases) may be temporarily disrupted or closed.
- Federal agency employees may need to cancel participation in meetings, conferences, and other activities, including virtual events.
A protracted federal shutdown may induce more dramatic effects on libraries, the nation, our economy, and our democracy. Any solution to the current situation will necessitate compromise between Republicans and Democrats in Congress and the administration.
Whatever the future holds, ALA will leverage its presence in Washington, D.C., and our network of dedicated library advocates to support library workers, the profession, and the people we serve.
To contact your congressmembers about federal library funding, visit ala.org/fundlibraries. To learn about other ways to show up for our libraries, visit ala.org/showup.
Updated Oct. 31, 2025, with current information about funding to state libraries.
