The Trump administration, in partnership with Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, has significantly reduced the operations of a small federal agency that provides financial support to libraries and museums across the United States. This development poses potential risks to various community services, including student field trips, senior classes, and access to digital services like the ebook app Libby.
On a recent Monday, leaders at the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) informed its 77 employees—covering nearly the entire workforce—about their immediate placement on paid administrative leave. This information comes from an anonymous employee concerned about possible retaliation from Trump officials, and was corroborated by several other sources. This decision follows the appointment of Keith Sonderling, previously the deputy secretary of labor, as the acting director of IMLS by President Donald Trump less than two weeks prior.
A spokesperson for the American Federation of Government Employee Local 3403, which represents roughly 40 IMLS workers, indicated that Sonderling and a team from the Department of Government Efficiency had a meeting with IMLS leadership towards the end of the previous month. After the meeting, Sonderling communicated via email to staff, highlighting the crucial role of libraries and museums in shaping the younger generation’s views on American exceptionalism and patriotism.
IMLS employees who reported to work on Monday were directed to return their computers and lost access to their government email accounts before being instructed to leave for the day. There is uncertainty regarding when or if the employees will return to their roles, according to one employee who described the situation as “heartbreaking on many levels.”
Neither the White House nor the Institute of Museum and Library Services provided immediate responses to requests for comments from WIRED.
The annual budget of the IMLS is less than $1 per resident in the U.S. Last year, the agency allocated over $269.5 million to library and museum systems according to its grants database. Much of this funding is distributed over time as reimbursements, noted a current IMLS employee, but there are now no personnel available to process outstanding payments.
The American Federation of Government Employee Local 3403 stated that the fate of previously granted funds is uncertain without staff to manage the programs, and many grants are likely to be discontinued.
About 65% of the funding was earmarked for different states, each set to receive a minimum of approximately $1.2 million. These funds could be used for statewide programs or distributed to local museum and library organizations for purposes such as staff training and administrative software. California and Texas were anticipated to receive the largest shares, at approximately $12.5 million and $15.7 million respectively, according to IMLS records. Individual libraries and museums also directly receive grants for distinct projects.
For instance, an art museum in Idaho planned to use $10,350 to support student field trips, as recorded in the IMLS grant database. A North Carolina museum was allocated $23,500 for weaving and fiber art workshops for seniors. Additionally, an indigenous community in California intended to spend $10,000 on acquiring books and electronic resources.
