On June 6, a federal judge denied a motion to block the Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). The American Library Association (ALA) issued the following statement about the ruling:
A federal judge has declined to block the Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). The ruling, issued today in ALA v. Sonderling, will allow the administration’s cuts at the independent agency while the case proceeds. The case was brought by Democracy Forward and Gair Gallo Eberhard LLP on behalf of the ALA and the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME).
On May 6, a federal district court in Rhode Island issued a preliminary injunction in a separate case, prohibiting the agency from shutting down while that case is pending. That decision remains in effect.
“ALA is disappointed that the court did not grant our motion for preliminary injunction. The extent to which some libraries have already canceled services and programming—and even lost staff in some cases—is evidence of the importance of IMLS. ALA will not rest until libraries in every state receive the funding promised and IMLS is back in full force to meet the information needs of all Americans,” said ALA President Cindy Hohl.
“Our fight to protect our nation’s libraries and museums will continue,” said AFSCME President Lee Saunders. “This administration cannot ignore the separation of powers and dismantle agencies established by Congress at will. After we obtained an initial temporary restraining order, another federal court in a case brought by state attorneys general has agreed with our position and blocked the gutting of the Institute of Museum and Library Services. So, while we disagree with today’s decision, the fight is not yet lost. We will regroup and continue moving this case forward.”
“Museums and libraries are vital for people and communities across our nation,” said Robin Thurston, legal director at Democracy Forward. “Attacking those who ensure the continuity of their services is an attack on access to information and the truth itself. Democracy Forward is committed to working to protect these important institutions in our country. We will explore all legal avenues available to us as we continue this case.”
With today’s ruling, IMLS—a nonpartisan and independent agency dedicated to supporting and funding museums and libraries and the crucial community services they provide in every state across the country—may face devastating cuts to grants and services that will make it impossible to operate as required by Congress. The case will now proceed on the merits in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.
IMLS was first created and funded by Congress in 1996 and charged with supporting America’s libraries and museums. The agency has had bipartisan support throughout its history, having been reauthorized under Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama, as well as the first Trump administration. IMLS is bound by laws requiring that the agency conduct certain activities to support libraries and report on important issues to Congress. The complaint explains that cutting programs at IMLS will violate the law by eliminating programs Congress has provided funding for and directed IMLS to undertake.
This case continues Democracy Forward’s record of working with communities, parents, and libraries to defend the freedom to read. That work has previously included efforts in Arkansas, where Democracy Forward represented a coalition of librarians, booksellers, and readers who successfully prevented portions of an Arkansas law that threatens to criminalize librarians and booksellers from taking effect is asking a court to permanently stop the law from being enforced; Florida, where Democracy Forward represented the Florida Education Association, Florida Freedom to Read Project, and Families for Strong Public Schools to challenge actions by Gov. Ron DeSantis that shutter classroom libraries and undermine public education in Florida; and in Alabama, where Democracy Forward is representing a group of Alabama families and librarians with a broad array of political and religious backgrounds in a suit to stop policies approved by the library board that threaten to keep constitutionally protected books like To Kill a Mockingbird off of public library shelves.
The Democracy Forward legal team leading the matter are counsel Rachel Fried, Orlando Economos, Kayla Kaufmann, Robin Thurston and Skye Perryman.
