AFSCME and the American Library Association filed a lawsuit this week challenging a Trump
administration executive order dismantling the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), an independent agency that supports museums and libraries in every state.
The IMLS was created in 1996 to distribute funding to these critical local institutions that facilitate education and literacy for people of all ages. Prior to Trump’s administration, the agency received bipartisan support. The lawsuit charges that slashing programs at the IMLS violates the law by eliminating programs for which Congress has already allocated funding.
“Libraries and museums contain our collective history and knowledge while also providing safe spaces for learning, cultural expression and access to critical public resources,” said AFSCME President Lee Saunders. “They represent the heart of our communities, and the cultural workers who keep these institutions running enrich thousands of lives every day….Their work deserves support, not cuts.”
AFL-CIO Daily Brief