Statement on the Appointment of Keith E. Sonderling as Acting Director of IMLS

Today, President Donald J. Trump appointed Keith E. Sonderling as Acting Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), raising significant concerns for the nation’s library and museum communities.

IMLS is an independent federal agency with a statutory mission to provide funding, policy leadership, and research to support libraries and museums across the United States. This mission must remain nonpartisan and nonpolitical and aligned with the statutory framework established by Congress.

HELP SPREAD THE WORD

Click to share this on Bluesky, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn

In the press release announcing his installation, Mr. Sonderling said, “I am committed to steering this organization in lockstep with this Administration to enhance efficiency and foster innovation. We will revitalize IMLS and restore focus on patriotism, ensuring we preserve our country’s core values, promote American exceptionalism and cultivate love of country in future generations.” We are concerned about Mr. Sonderling’s statement and want to ensure that our position is clear: The Trump Administration must not politicize the role of IMLS. Public libraries and museums serve all people without ideological bias, and federal funding should not be contingent on political agendas.

Please sign the petition to protect IMLS and then click to share it on Bluesky, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn

As the new Acting Director takes office, we want to reiterate that the Institute of Museum and Library Services is statutorily bound to fulfill its obligations under the Museum and Library Services Act (MLSA) and must continue implementing Congress’s appropriations as enacted in the current federal budget. Federal law and current-year appropriations mandate that IMLS disburse funding to Grants to States recipients, National Leadership Grants and Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program recipients, Native American and Native Hawaiian Library Services recipients, and all museums-focused grant recipients. The agency must continue its statutory operations and research portfolio as well.

We expect Acting IMLS Director Sonderling to execute these core functions faithfully, fairly, and in full compliance with federal law, especially as the Executive Order of March 14, 2025 comes into force.  IMLS does not exist to promote political ideology; it ensures access to knowledge, history, and culture for all Americans. Any attempts to undermine this mission—through ideological funding restrictions, biased program administration, or politically motivated policy changes—would be a gross overreach and a violation of IMLS’s mandate.

We need you to send an email to your governors and federal legislators to stop this attack!

Then, click to share it on Bluesky, Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin!

We call on Congress, particularly committees with jurisdiction over IMLS, to exercise oversight of implementing the March 14, 2025 Executive Order to ensure that IMLS remains faithful to its statutory obligations and does not become a tool for ideological influence. We encourage library and museum professionals, educators, and cultural institutions to closely monitor IMLS funding announcements and policy shifts for any indications of bias or undue influence. Libraries and museums must remain free from political interference and dedicated to the core values of learning, knowledge, and access for all.

Join us at SaveIMLS.org to advocate that IMLS upholds these values and ensures it serves every American community fairly and equitably.