Celebrating the Federal Court Ruling Protecting IMLS

Today's decision in Rhode Island v. Trump is an affirmation of the rule of law and a decisive victory for libraries, museums, readers, and the communities they serve. The U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island granted summary judgment to a coalition of 21 plaintiff states, ruling that Executive Order 14238 and the administration's attempts to dismantle the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) were unlawful, unconstitutional, and in direct violation of Congress's clear statutory directives.

Despite this just and appropriate ruling, the future of IMLS is not guaranteed. Even with today’s decisive victory, the FY2026 appropriations process remains uncertain, and the agency’s core programs require explicit protection in law. We cannot allow this moment to pass without rebuilding the political coalition necessary to safeguard IMLS for the long term. As Congress takes up final negotiations on the full-year FY2026 budget, we are calling on lawmakers to fully fund IMLS, with strong protections for Grants to States.

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Since the day the Executive Order was issued, we have asserted that the IMLS cannot be abolished, defunded, or undermined by executive action. Congress established IMLS, allocated its funding, and assigned it specific responsibilities, particularly regarding the Grants to States and other mandated and discretionary grant programs. Federal courts have now made clear what we have argued all along. The President cannot suspend statutes, cancel appropriated funds, or dissolve an agency that Congress created and continues to fund.

John Chrastka, Executive Director of EveryLibrary, stated, "Today’s ruling is a victory for the rule of law and a clear rejection of executive overreach. Congress created the Institute of Museum and Library Services to serve the American people, and no president can erase that mandate by fiat. We are grateful to the 21 plaintiff states who stood up in this case and defended the statutory rights of libraries, museums, and their communities. Their courage has not only protected IMLS but also the entire federal framework for access to information, learning, and culture. As Congress resumes work on the FY2026 appropriations bills, we urge lawmakers to fully fund IMLS, especially the Grants to States program, and reaffirm the agency's role as an essential partner to every library in the nation."

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Today's ruling restores certainty and stability for state library agencies, public libraries, tribal libraries, school libraries, museums, and all institutions that rely on IMLS for expertise, data, technical assistance, and federal funding. IMLS is the engine behind nationwide library and museum innovation, equity, access, and learning. The Grants to States program alone ensures that every state library agency can plan, build, and sustain the infrastructure that millions of Americans rely on every day. We are pleased to see that the court has declared staff terminations unconstitutional and contrary to statute, and that IMLS must remain properly staffed to carry out the work Congress requires. The ruling also makes clear that the Administration cannot raid IMLS’s budget to underwrite America 250 programming or any other priorities not approved by Congress. Redirecting federal library and museum funds to projects outside the agency’s statutory mission is unlawful.

Millions of Americans rely on the work IMLS makes possible. That is why we are asking everyone who cares about libraries, museums, and equitable access to information to take one more step today. Visit FundIMLS.org to send a message to your Senators and Representatives urging them to protect the agency in the FY2026 budget and to stand firm against any attempt to weaken its mandate. Your voice matters now more than ever.