In an important judicial decision on Thursday, a federal judge has decided to halt the Trump administration’s efforts to close down an agency responsible for supporting and advocating for libraries throughout the United States.
The ruling by U.S. District Judge Richard Leon suggests that the plaintiffs in this case have a significant chance of proving that the Trump administration does not have the legal authority to disband the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), an entity established by Congress.
The legal challenge was initiated by the American Library Association along with a federal employees’ labor union in response to an executive order signed by President Donald Trump on March 14. This order categorized the IMLS, along with other federal agencies, as redundant. Following this order, Keith Sonderling, the newly appointed acting director, took numerous actions to dismantle the agency, such as putting staff on administrative leave, issuing termination notices, halting grants, and dissolving the National Museum and Library Services Board.
Judge Leon’s injunction serves as a temporary restraining order aimed at maintaining the current operations of the IMLS, without granting all the remedies sought by the plaintiffs. The administration is now prohibited from taking further steps to dissolve the agency, including terminating staff or canceling contracts, as the legal proceedings continue.
The IMLS, with around 75 employees, distributed over $266 million in grants last year. Attorneys representing the plaintiffs have cautioned that if the agency were to be dissolved, libraries would face the loss of funding for essential programs, potential staff reductions, and some might even face closure.
In their filings, the plaintiffs’ attorneys argued that even if legal grounds existed for dismantling the IMLS, the administration has failed to provide a valid justification for the action, ignored established reliance interests, and overlooked reasonable alternatives.
On the contrary, government attorneys have argued that the executive order directs the IMLS to narrow its functions strictly to those mandated by law. They also claimed that the court lacks the jurisdiction to entertain the plaintiffs’ claims. They asserted that granting the plaintiffs’ injunctive relief would impede the operation of multiple federal agencies and restrict the presidential agenda.
Cindy Hohl, president of the American Library Association, expressed concerns over the immediate consequences of funding cuts on libraries nationwide, especially those in rural locations, that rely heavily on summer reading programs. These libraries are already facing challenges in securing alternative funding to pay for contracted performers and educators. Hohl emphasized that while the grants account for a small fraction of the federal budget, they represent critical funds for many libraries that could face closure without them.