EveryLibrary Supports State Attorneys General Lawsuit to Stop Unlawful Termination of IMLS Grants

EveryLibrary supports the coalition of 20 state Attorneys General who have filed suit to stop the dismantling of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).

The lawsuit correctly argues that the Executive Order issued on March 14, 2025 by President Trump unconstitutionally overrides Congress’s power of the purse by directing IMLS to eliminate programs that Congress has explicitly authorized and appropriated funds for. As the suit states: "Neither the President nor an agency can take any action that exceeds the scope of their constitutional and/or statutory authority." We believe this affirms a longstanding position of the EveryLibrary Institute, the now-dismissed IMLS Advisory Board, and numerous members of Congress that statutory obligations, not political priorities, must determine how federal funds are administered.

This case is not simply about administrative authority — it is about constitutional limits, the rule of law, and the future of federally supported library and museum services in every state. 

“We are deeply grateful to the coalition of Attorneys General for stepping up on behalf of their state libraries, museums, archives - and the millions of people they serve,” said John Chrastka, Executive Director of EveryLibrary. “The stakes could not be higher. The new IMLS acting director and DOGE have already begun terminating grants mid-cycle. We urge the courts to act swiftly to resolve this suit and restore lawful operations at the agency. We stand with the grantees and the professionals on the frontlines during this uncertain but hopeful period.”

In 2024, IMLS invested $180 million in libraries nationwide under its Grants to States Program alone. These funds support library services in every state and territory and help sustain hundreds of library workers who provide essential programming, access to technology, workforce development, and lifelong learning resources. The administration’s action to terminate these grants mid-year threatens the stability of state and local library systems at a national scale.

This lawsuit is led by the attorneys general of New York, Rhode Island, and Hawaii. Joining the suit are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin. In addition to IMLS, the suit includes a request for an injunction about President Trump's actions against the labor organizing staff and programs of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) and the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), which has been forced to cut its grant programs that support small business owners. 

EveryLibrary will continue to monitor this case closely and advocate for the full restoration of IMLS’s statutory programs and obligations. We remain committed to defending federal support for libraries, museums, archives, and the communities that depend on them. Please join us in talking with one voice to Congress, governors, and state legislatures at SaveIMLS.org.

Read the full lawsuit (via CT): https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/ag/press_releases/2025/imls.pdf?rev=534e79cca75441cd92423dfbb87aef86&hash=E25666EFF2CDBEA257CE91E0B39B9517 

Press Release from co-lead AG of Rhode Island: https://riag.ri.gov/press-releases/ag-neronha-co-leads-lawsuit-against-trump-administration-protect-libraries-workers