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On Monday, nearly all employees of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) were placed on administrative leave, as confirmed by an official from the Trump administration. While a union representative and an IMLS staff member indicated that every employee was affected, government sources clarified that approximately 20% of the workforce, which is about 77 employees in total, remained at their posts.
This action primarily affected around 80% of IMLS’s personnel. Earlier this month, President Trump issued an executive order stipulating that IMLS, along with six other federal entities, should operate with a “minimum presence.” This occurred after staff from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) were observed at the IMLS headquarters in Washington, D.C., overseeing the swearing-in ceremony of the new acting commissioner, Deputy Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling.
The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 403, which represents IMLS employees, reported that the leave decision was communicated following a brief discussion between DOGE representatives and IMLS leadership. Subsequently, it was announced that museums and libraries would be unable to reach IMLS staff regarding funding queries. Additionally, the clarity surrounding previously awarded grants was uncertain, with indications that many of these funds could be terminated.
IMLS was established in 1996 as an independent federal agency under the Museum and Library Services Act to provide support to American museums and libraries. In the previous year, the agency awarded $267 million in grants nationally, emphasizing initiatives aimed at enhancing access to libraries and museums through programs like book drives and field trips in underserved regions.
EveryLibrary, an organization that advocates for libraries nationwide, expressed concern over the leave decision, deeming it “potentially devastating for institutions that depend on federal support to meet local needs.” The group articulated that this situation transcends bureaucratic concerns and poses a significant crisis for the library, museum, and archive sectors across the United States, as detailed in their statement.
An internal email sent to IMLS employees from the human resources director noted that there was no disciplinary reason for the administrative leave and announced that employees’ email accounts would be deactivated. They were also instructed to leave their work laptops and phones at the office, as revealed in communications reviewed by CBS News.
One IMLS employee speculated that the arrival of Sonderling at the agency hinted at impending administrative leave. Employees have reportedly not been informed about the agency’s future, although discussions suggest possible downsizing to a staff of 30, with a transition to the Labor Department, according to reports from the Federal News Network.
A White House spokesperson described the restructuring as a “necessary step” to fulfill the president’s executive order, asserting it would safeguard taxpayers’ money from being allocated to what they termed “discriminatory DEI initiatives or divisive anti-American programming” within cultural institutions. They emphasized that these adjustments would enhance IMLS’s capacity to serve the American populace with integrity and purpose.
Furthermore, President Trump signed an additional executive order aimed at restricting funding for certain Smithsonian Institution programs that he characterized as promoting a “divisive, race-centered ideology.” Meanwhile, a bipartisan group of senators, including Republicans Lisa Murkowski from Alaska and Susan Collins from Maine, has urged the administration to maintain federal funding and responsibilities for IMLS under the Museum and Library Services Act of 2018, legislation signed during Trump’s first term. In their correspondence to Sonderling, the senators reinforced the importance of IMLS grants in developing library services across diverse American communities, ensuring inclusivity for various demographic groups, including individuals with disabilities, rural and urban residents, Native Americans, military families, and more.
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