Trump-Vance Administration Thwarted in Attempt to Gut Nation’s Libraries and Museums

The Trump-Vance administration’s brazen attempt to dismantle the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) has been stopped dead in its tracks. The American Library Association (ALA) and the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) reached a settlement with the Department of Justice that preserves the agency’s crucial role in funding and supporting libraries and museums across the country.

IMLS is the only federal agency dedicated to providing grants and resources to libraries, museums, public gardens, zoos, and other cultural institutions. Its work underpins early childhood education, workforce development, digital access, and public learning spaces that millions of Americans rely on daily. The Trump-Vance administration’s executive order sought to dismantle this lifeline by slashing staff through widespread Reductions in Force (RIF) and terminating grants, threatening to cripple community services nationwide.

Thanks to aggressive legal action led by Democracy Forward and Gair Gallo Eberhard LLP, the administration’s plan has been halted. The settlement reinstates all previously terminated grants, reverses staff cuts, and stops any further efforts to implement the executive order targeting IMLS. This victory ensures libraries and museums can continue operating without disruption in all 50 states.

ALA President Sam Helmick emphasized the stakes: “When the administration began shuttering IMLS last year, it set off a chain reaction. Libraries across the country started cutting hours, staff, and services people rely on – after school programs, support for jobseekers, and connection for older adults.” AFSCME President Lee Saunders hailed the win as a defense of “essential places of learning” that serve as gateways to opportunity and connection for communities everywhere.

This case is part of a broader pattern of authoritarian overreach by the Trump-Vance administration, which has repeatedly sought to bypass Congress and dismantle agencies that safeguard democratic infrastructure and civil rights. As Democracy Forward CEO Skye Perryman put it, “Libraries and museums are pillars of our democracy; they expand opportunities, safeguard access to information, and strengthen communities.” This settlement is proof that organized resistance and litigation can hold back the administration’s attacks on public institutions.

With National Library Week approaching, this victory sends a clear message: the Trump-Vance administration’s efforts to undermine the public’s access to knowledge and culture will not go unchallenged. The fight to protect democracy’s foundations continues, and this win ensures that libraries and museums remain vibrant hubs of learning and community support across the nation.

For full details, see the settlement agreement and related documents at Democracy Forward’s website.