NEWS: Sens. Schiff, Reed, Lawmakers Call on Trump Administration to Reverse Plans to Defund Libraries and Museums

“The consequences of eliminating IMLS will be devastating for states, local communities, and the millions of Americans who rely on these institutions every day.”
Washington, D.C.– Today, U.S. Senators Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and Jack Reed (D-R.I.) along with 24 lawmakerswroteto the Acting Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) expressing serious concerns regarding President Trump’s call to eliminate IMLS which was created by a Republican-led Congress in 1996 and is the only federal agency dedicated to supporting the nation’s libraries and museums. In theletter, the lawmakers call on the administration to ensure there is continued funding in accordance with federal law for libraries and museums and to reverse any actions that jeopardize their provision of critical services on which many communities rely on.
“The consequences of eliminating IMLS will be devastating for states, local communities, and the millions of Americans who rely on these institutions every day. These institutions are critical pillars of educational opportunity, cultural preservation, civic engagement, and economic development in our communities,”wrote the lawmakers.
“We urge you to uphold the law, immediately disburse all LSTA grant funding to our states, including California, Connecticut and Washington, and reverse any actions that jeopardize the future of the libraries and museums our communities rely on,”the lawmakers concluded.Libraries serve as essential lifelines for families, students, and workers throughout California providing literacy programs, access to technology, job training, small business support, and more.
This letter is also signed by U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Kristen Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.). In the U.S. House of Representatives, this letter is signed by Representatives Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.-15), Julia Brownley (D-Calif.-26), Scott Peters (D-Calif.-50), Jim Costa (D-Calif.-21), Raul Ruiz (D-Calif.-25), Juan Vargas (D-Calif.-52), Mark Takano (D-Calif.-39), George Whitesides (D-Calif.-27), Mike Thompson (D-Calif.-04), Norma Torres (D-Calif.-35), Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.-34), J. Luis Correa (D-Calif.-46), Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.-24) Nanette Barragan (D-Calif.-44) and Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.-18).
The full text of the letter is availablehereand below.
Dear Mr. Sonderling,
We write to express our serious concerns regarding President Trump’s call to eliminate the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the only federal agency dedicated to supporting the nation’s libraries and museums. On March 14, 2025 President Trump issued the Executive Order “Continuing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy” which includes IMLS to be eliminated “to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law” and for IMLS to submit a report to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to confirm compliance. We are reminding the Administration of its obligation to fully execute the law as authorized by Congress under the Museum and Library Services Act (MLSA) of 2018 (PL 115-40), as signed by President Trump. Beginning on April 3, 2025, several grantees— including the states of California, Connecticut and Washington— received written notice from IMLS that their federal Fiscal Year 2024–25 grants under the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) had been terminated. We strongly urge the Administration to reverse these terminations and ensure continued funding in accordance with federal law.
For Fiscal Year 2024, Congress appropriated $294.8 million for IMLS, specifying funding should be allotted across the programs in the following manner:
Library Services Technology Act
Grants to States$180,000,000
Native American Library Services$5,763,000
National Leadership: Libraries$15,287,000
Laura Bush 21stCentury Librarian$10,000,000
Museum Services Act
Museums for America$30,330,000
Native American/Native Hawaiian Museum Services$3,772,000
National Leadership: Museums                                                                 $9,348,000
African American History and Culture Act$6,000,000
National Museum of the American Latino Act                                                       $6,000,000
Research, Analysis, and Data Collection                                                                $5,650,000
Program Administration$22,650,000We expect the Administration to fully implement the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act of 2025 consistent with the Fiscal Year 2024 allocations. We also urge the Administration to allow IMLS to continue to engage with and support libraries and museums as Congress intended and as authorized in the MLSA, including maintaining the expertise of the IMLS staff to carry out the functions of the agency.
Libraries and museums are deeply embedded in local communities across the country and millions of Americans rely on their services and programs, particularly the most rural and underserved areas. In 2024, IMLS funding reached 140,000 libraries and museums across all 50 states and U.S. territories. Public, school, academic, and specialty libraries provide a wide range of local services such as summer reading programs for youth, high-speed internet, workforce training, and support for small businesses. Libraries are especially vital for low-income families, students, and workers who depend on them for free access to technology, educational resources, and job search support. In California, local libraries serve as critical lifelines for families experiencing homelessness and those displaced by natural disasters, offering space for community gathering and access to emergency information. Every year, more than 1.2 billion people visit libraries in-person—and they are deeply valued by the American public.
Museums serve as crucial sources of information for history, art, science, and culture and have broad public support. In fact, 96 percent of surveyed Americans believe lawmakers should support museums. Museums support more than 726,000 American jobs and contribute $50 billion to the U.S. economy every year. Beyond their cultural significance, museums play a vital role in education, offering hands-on learning opportunities for students of all ages and providing resources that supplement school curricula, especially in underserved communities. For states like California, Connecticut, and Washington, museums are essential pillars of local identity, tourism, and community development.
The consequences of eliminating IMLS will be devastating for states, local communities, and the millions of Americans who rely on these institutions every day. These institutions are critical pillars of educational opportunity, cultural preservation, civic engagement, and economic development in our communities.
As such, please provide us with a written response to the questions below no later than May 1, 2025.
Museums and libraries are the cornerstone of our society that serve as protected spaces for people to learn, engage with their community, and build curiosity. We urge you to uphold the law, immediately disburse all awarded LSTA grant funding to our states, including California, Connecticut and Washington, and reverse any actions that jeopardize the future of the libraries and museums our communities rely on.
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