Legislative Update on IMLS -- May 22, 2025
May 22, 2025
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The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) staff are returning to work, thanks to an order of a federal judge. Grants in plaintiff states have begun to be restored.
The Attorneys General of 21 states, including Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, filed a federal lawsuit, Rhode Island v. Trump, to halt the Trump Administration’s dismantling of IMLS. In response, a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction ordering the Administration to restore terminated IMLS staff and grants to recipients in the 21 plaintiff states. On May 20, the Administration filed a status report describing its compliance with that order.
While the May 20 status report describes the Administration’s compliance with the preliminary injunction, the Administration also has filed an appeal of that order and requested a stay of the order pending appeal.
ALA has filed its own challenge of the Administration’s actions to eliminate IMLS, ALA v. Sonderling. The judge in that case issued a temporary restraining order on May 1 to halt further actions to dismantle the agency. A ruling on ALA’s request for a preliminary injunction in that case is expected by May 29.
For more information visit the ALA website: IMLS Back press release and Show Up for Our Libraries.
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