Court Rules to Stop Trump Administration Effort to Gut Institute of Museum and Library Services, Temporary Restraining Order Granted

Ed. Note: We plan to update this post with additional statements; media coverage, etc.

Direct to Court Order (May 1, 2025)

From Democracy Forward:

A federal judge has temporarily stopped devastating and unlawful Trump administration dismantling of the Institute of Museum and Library Services, ordering a temporary restraining order in ALA et al v Sonderling et al brought by Democracy Forward and Gair Gallo Eberhard LLP on behalf of the American Library Association (ALA) and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). With today’s ruling, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) – a non-partisan and independent agency dedicated to supporting and funding museums and libraries and the crucial community services they provide in every state across the country – will continue to operate as required by Congress while the court hears the case.

“The immediate halt to the gutting of IMLS is a win for America’s libraries and the millions of Americans who rely on them,” said ALA President Cindy Hohl. “ALA is encouraged that the court recognizes the immediacy of the need for IMLS and library services at risk. The temporary restraining order will stop the dismantling of IMLS while the court considers the merits in this case.”

“We celebrate today’s decision as a victory for library and museum workers and the communities who depend on them. They do everything from helping workers connect to job opportunities to instilling a love of learning and inspiring creativity in others. This ruling will halt the layoffs of the critical workers who support them,” said AFSCME President Lee Saunders. “We look forward to moving our case forward and reversing this unlawful shut down.”

“Libraries are vital for people and communities across our nation. Attacking libraries and those who ensure the continuity of their services is yet another move by the Trump administration that does nothing to make Americans’ lives better or easier,” said Skye Perryman, President & CEO of Democracy Forward. “Democracy Forward is honored to continue our work with libraries and librarians to protect these important educational institutions in our country, and we are grateful that this preliminary injunction will pause these devastating cuts while our case can be considered.”

Read the Complete Democracy Forward Statement

Update 1: Statement From the American Library Association

The temporary restraining order was issued days before the mass layoff of nearly all IMLS employees was set to take effect on May 4.

ALA President Hohl continued, “Even with a temporary restraining order in place, Congress also must act to ensure our nation’s libraries can continue to serve their communities, including by funding IMLS for next year.”

Parallel to its efforts to preserve IMLS through litigation, ALA mounted a campaign to secure funding for the agency in Fiscal Year (FY) 2026. ALA is currently asking advocates to request their Congressmembers to demonstrate their commitment to library funding by signing congressional “Dear Appropriator” letters in support of IMLS funding next year. The window for Congressmembers to sign on to the FY 2026 library funding letters is expected to close in mid-May.

Read the Complete ALA Statement

Direct to Court Order (May 1, 2025)

Direct to Complete Case Docket

Statements

• EveryLibrary Statement on Federal Court’s Temporary Restraining Order Halting the Dismantling of IMLS
  

Media Coverage

Judge Temporarily Blocks Trump Administration From Dismantling Library Services Agency (via AP)

U.S. District Judge Richard Leon ruled that plaintiffs who sued to preserve the Institute of Museum and Library Services are likely to show that the administration doesn’t have the legal authority to unilaterally shutter the agency, which Congress created.

• ALA Pushes to Preserve IMLS as Staff Termination Date Looms (via PW; May 1, 2025)
• Judge ‘Inclined’ To Block DOGE takeover of Institute of Museum and Library Services (via WUSA; May 1, 2025)

See Also: American Library Association (ALA), AFSCME Challenge Trump Administration Gutting of Institute of Museum and Library Services (April 8, 2025)

Filed under: Associations and Organizations, Funding, Libraries, News