STATEMENT: Trump Freezes All Grant Funding to Libraries, Archives, and Museums
While this "pause" will negatively impact millions of Americans, it will also considerably impact libraries.
Trump has demanded a freeze on all federal grants and for all agencies to “temporarily pause all activities related to obligations or disbursement of all Federal financial assistance.”
While this "pause" will negatively impact millions of Americans, it will also considerably impact libraries.
Federal funding for libraries, museums, and archives is guaranteed each year by Congress and authorized under law. The Trump Administration’s January 27th “pause” on distributing federal grant funding to authorized recipients will negatively impact those institutions and their communities
The administration says it will conduct a comprehensive review of grant recipients' political and social ideology before resuming any funding
Essentially, Trump requires a loyalty test from government agencies before he allows them to resume their work. This is undoubtedly un-American. This action to withhold funds to grant recipients authorized by Congress is also likely illegal.
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As a 501(c)4 organization, EveryLibrary does not apply for or receive federal grants. This order from the Office of Management and Budget does not directly affect us. This is about how this order negatively impacts libraries, museums, and archives. State Libraries use federal LSTA funds to support interlibrary loan services, educational databases, and their staff, which supports all the libraries in their states. Many public libraries receive direct grants for programs, collections, and staffing that enable them to serve their communities. Because of these grants, archives and museums across the country are able to do their important work. And numerous library non-profits and associations have to suspend or halt their activities because of this freeze. EveryLibrary stands with our colleagues in libraries, archives, museums, and the non-profit community, whom this freeze will hurt.
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What will happen to America when libraries are subject to politically motivated scrutiny to win back funding already obligated under law by Congress? If the idea that “a good library has something in it to offend everyone” is true, will President Trump and Project 2025 find enough fault in libraries to shut off their funding forever? As library stakeholders, we cannot let this OMB order remain in effect. EveryLibrary calls on library advocates in red and blue states to contact Congress today and demand that they step in and reverse this OMB hold. The Trump Administration cannot be allowed to hold this funding hostage.