Buckle up, folks—libraries and museums just got caught in the crosshairs of a federal showdown. A U.S. District Judge has waved the green flag for the Trump administration to dismantle the Institute of Museum and Library Services, despite passionate pleas from its defenders.
The Associated Press reported that Judge Richard Leon denied the American Library Association’s bid to stop the administration from gutting the institute, citing jurisdictional hurdles based on recent court rulings.
Back on March 14, President Donald Trump signed an executive order branding the Institute of Museum and Library Services, among other agencies, as “unnecessary” to the federal mission.
For an administration focused on trimming fat, this was a predictable, if controversial, move.
Following the order, the agency’s acting director didn’t waste time, placing staff on administrative leave, issuing termination notices to most of the 75 employees, canceling grants, and even ousting the entire National Museum and Library Services Board.
That’s a swift housecleaning, even by Washington standards. If you thought bureaucracy moved slowly, think again.
Now, this isn’t just about pink slips—it’s big money too. Last year alone, the institute dished out over $266 million in grants to support libraries and museums nationwide. Losing that kind of funding isn’t a papercut; it’s a full-on amputation for many cultural institutions.
Enter the American Library Association and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, who teamed up to sue the administration, hoping to slam the brakes on this demolition derby.
They argued that Trump lacks the legal muscle to shutter an agency created by Congress. It’s a fair point—presidents don’t usually get to play wrecking ball with legislative creations.
At first, Judge Leon seemed to agree with the plaintiffs, temporarily blocking the administration’s actions because Trump might be overstepping his authority. That was a glimmer of hope for library and museum advocates. But alas, hope can be fleeting in the courtroom.
On Friday, Leon reversed course, denying the request to halt the dismantling due to jurisdictional issues.
He pointed to recent court decisions, including a Supreme Court ruling that allowed the administration to slash hundreds of millions in teacher-training funds despite lower court objections. Turns out, precedent can be a tough nut to crack.
Leon didn’t hide his frustration, though, stating, “Court laments the Executive Branch’s efforts to cut off this lifeline.” Nice sentiment, Your Honor, but lamenting doesn’t pay the bills or keep library doors open. Feelings won’t fund the future of cultural hubs in small-town America.
In his ruling, Leon suggested the case belongs in the Court of Federal Claims, not his courtroom. It’s a procedural punt that leaves advocates scrambling for the next legal venue. Meanwhile, the clock is ticking for an agency already on life support.
Adding a twist, a separate legal battle in Rhode Island offers a sliver of resistance. A judge there has issued an order blocking the government from shutting down the institute in a case brought by several states.
The Trump administration, predictably, is appealing that decision with all the enthusiasm of a bulldog with a bone.
So, where does this leave us? On one hand, the administration’s push to streamline government by axing what it sees as redundant agencies aligns with a conservative drive for efficiency.
On the other hand, slashing a $266 million lifeline for libraries and museums feels like burning a book to save on shelf space.
For those cheering the progressive agenda, this ruling stings as another loss in a long line of cultural battles. But let’s not pretend the other side doesn’t have a point—government bloat is real, and not every agency deserves immortality. Still, dismantling an entire institute without a clear replacement plan feels like swinging a sledgehammer at a problem that needed a scalpel.