Libraries, Museums, Cultural Institutions, and Nation’s Largest Cultural Worker Union Urge Court to Block President Trump’s Effort to Dismantle the Nation’s Cultural and Educational Infrastructure
Supporting Brief Highlights the Devastating Impact of Executive Order Gutting the Institute of Museum and Library Services
Rhode Island — A coalition of leading library, museum, and cultural organizations, and the nation’s largest labor union of cultural workers, represented by Democracy Forward and Miner, Barnhill & Galland, P.C. filed a friend-of-the-court brief today in Rhode Island v. Trump, urging the First Circuit Court of Appeals to uphold an injunction against the Trump-Vance administration’s unlawful attempt to dismantle the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) through an Executive Order. The groups emphasized that the administration’s refusal to spend congressionally appropriated funds undermines vital public services and threatens communities nationwide
“Today, we urge the court to continue to protect federal support for museums and libraries from anti-worker billionaires who are trying to rob our communities of the services we depend on,” said Lee Saunders, president of AFSCME, the largest cultural worker union. “Because of this support, AFSCME members at cultural institutions nationwide educate the next generation, help workers access job training, and provide a safe space where anyone can learn. We will continue to defend our communities from these attempts to deprive us of our history, our resources, and our freedom to learn.”
The groups include the American Library Association, Association of Research Libraries, Association for Rural & Small Libraries, Association of Tribal Archives, Libraries, and Museums, Urban Libraries Council, American Association for State and Local History, American Alliance of Museums, Association of Art Museum Directors, American Public Gardens Association, Association of Children’s Museums, Association of Science and Technology Centers, Association of Zoos & Aquariums, Association of Science Museum Directors, and the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME).
“IMLS is the connective tissue of America’s cultural infrastructure,” said Orlando Economos, Senior Staff Attorney at Democracy Forward. “From preserving history and expanding access to education, to ensuring small-town libraries and major museums alike can serve their communities, IMLS plays an irreplaceable role. The administration’s attempt to dismantle this agency is not only unlawful — it would cause immediate and lasting harm to millions of Americans who rely on these institutions.”
“IMLS is indispensable for libraries, museums, and cultural workers, as well as the millions of people we serve every day. We hope the court will strike down the attempt to dismantle IMLS, which the law directs to provide crucial funding, research and resources that advance our shared missions: stewarding our history, strengthening access to lifelong learning, seeding opportunity and sparking innovation for all Americans,” said ALA President Sam Helmick.
“IMLS funding is absolutely critical to our nation's libraries,” said Andrew K. Pace, Executive Director of the Association of Research Libraries. “This support transforms local initiatives into global innovations—like the freely available oral history software used by hundreds of institutions worldwide, or the collaborative preservation projects that safeguard our regional cultures for future generations. IMLS doesn't just fund libraries; it amplifies their impact, turning limited resources into expansive community benefits. Eliminating this vital funding would halt the national contribution our libraries have made in serving communities, preserving knowledge, and fostering innovation across the country.”
“IMLS plays a crucial role in supporting America’s 21,000 history organizations, which serve and enrich communities nationwide, from small towns to major urban centers. Gutting IMLS severely limits the ability of the history field to help the public learn from our past and envision our future. This is especially important on the eve of the country’s 250th anniversary. Now is the time to build up—not break down—our historical infrastructure as part of our collective journey towards a more perfect Union,” said John Dichtl, president & CEO of the American Association for State and Local History.
“IMLS is a cornerstone of our nation’s cultural and educational life,” said Marilyn Jackson, American Alliance of Museums President and CEO. “As the only federal agency solely dedicated to supporting museums, it ensures that communities across the country have access to history, science, art, and culture. Dismantling IMLS would jeopardize decades of progress and threaten the countless American communities that benefit from its work. Museums contribute $50 billion to the U.S. economy each year, support 726,000 American jobs, and serve as trusted spaces for learning and connection. IMLS is essential to sustaining that impact.”
IMLS is the federal agency that provides essential coordination, research, and funding for the nation’s libraries, museums, public gardens, aquariums, zoos, and other cultural institutions. The brief details how the Executive Order has already curtailed critical grantmaking, halted data collection, and left libraries and museums without the technical expertise needed to serve the public.
The brief highlights that IMLS grants and expertise enable libraries and museums to modernize, expand access, and preserve critical collections; and that cuts to IMLS staff and programs will have an out-sized impact on rural, low-income, and Tribal communities that rely on federal support. Dismantling IMLS would severely diminish access to information, education, and cultural resources. The brief urges the court to affirm the district court’s preliminary injunction, which keeps the agency operational while litigation continues.
The case is Rhode Island v. Trump, and the legal team at Democracy Forward in this case includes Orlando Economos, Pooja Boisture, and Kayla Kaufman. The case is parallel to Democracy Forward’s own challenge to the dismantling of IMLS, filed April 7, 2025, on behalf of ALA and AFSCME.
Read the brief here.