Recent Executive Orders are having profound effects on communities, organizations, and museums. We know this brings uncertainty, and we’re here to help by providing updates and resources. We appreciate your patience as we work with our partners to create resources to help you navigate this rapidly changing situation. We will continue to update this page with information and resources.

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6/10/25 Latest on IMLS Court Cases

ALA v. Sonderling

On June 6, 2025, in the case ALA v. Sonderling filed by Democracy Forward on behalf of the American Library Association and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Workers, the Judge decided not to grant a preliminary injunction while the courts continue to decide the merits of the case. This does not mean the case is over, it means that the Judge will not put into place an order stopping the Administration from further dismantling IMLS while the parties litigate the legal issues.

The Judge’s opinion stated that other cases seeking reinstatement of grants have questioned whether those types of cases belong in the US Court of Federal Claims as opposed to Federal District Court and therefore creating questions as to whether or not this case is in the proper court. The Judge further noted that a preliminary injunction is “an extraordinary remedy” and that a plaintiff must make a clear showing of “a substantial likelihood of success on the merits” in order for one to be issued.

Key takeaway: With the lack of clarity on the proper court jurisdiction, the Judge decided this case did not meet the standard for a preliminary injunction. This means that the June 6 decision should not change the current status of your grant.

Rhode Island v. Trump

The preliminary injunction that was put into place May 13 in the case filed by the 21 State Attorneys General, Rhode Island v. Trump, is still in effect. The Judge in that case ordered IMLS to:

• reverse the actions taken by the Administration to implement the Executive Order;
• not further pause or terminate IMLS grants or contracts to grantees in the plaintiff’s 21 states; and
• restore the grants to grantees in the plaintiff’s 21 states.

Key takeaway: IMLS staff have returned to work, and library and museum grantees in those 21 states have their IMLS grants reinstated. If your museum is an IMLS grantee in one of the 21 states and have not had your grant reinstated, please let AAM know at advocacy@aam-us.org.

This preliminary injunction is in place while the court continues to consider the merits of the case as to whether a permanent injunction should be put in place. The government has appealed the Judge’s order of the preliminary injunction and requested a stay of the injunction while the appeal is being considered. The Judge declined to issue a stay, and the preliminary injunction remains in effect until the government’s appeal is considered or until a decision is made on the merits of a permanent injunction. As noted in the reinstatement letters grantees received, it is unclear how long the reinstatements will last given the government’s appeal and ongoing court actions.

The court actions are expected to be a lengthy process and uncertainty around the future of IMLS will likely continue for some time.

AAM and our partner museum associations are in communication with those working on these cases about the ways that the museum community can be most helpful. We will continue to keep you informed about how these court cases impact your work and ensure that museums’ issues are represented in these legal proceedings. You can continue to find updates on AAM’s website.

While these cases continue in the court system, our priority as a field continues to be ensuring that Congress preserves federal funding and other support for museums in its Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) appropriations bills. One of the key arguments in the lawsuits is that the President cannot eliminate the agency and not use the funding appropriated to the agency without Congressional approval. Because of this, it’s critical that Congress continues to fund these agencies. See previous Advocacy Alerts for ways to get involved. Note, the next regularly scheduled Advocacy Alert with more detailed funding and policy updates will go out this Friday, June 13.

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Update 5/22/25: An Update on IMLS Legal Cases and Congressional Advocacy

Dear AAM Members:

The daily news cycle can feel overwhelming, and you may have questions about the ongoing legal cases related to the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and our advocacy priorities. Below, you can find updates on these legal challenges, our current priorities, and what you can do to take action.

IMLS Court Cases – Status as of May 22

There are currently two legal challenges to the changes at IMLS related to the Executive Order, “Continuing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy”:

• One case is being led by Democracy Forward on behalf of the American Library Association and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Workers.
  • The judge in this case issued a narrow temporary restraining order preventing the Administration from making any further reductions to IMLS.
  • A ruling on the request for a Preliminary Injunction in that case is expected by May 29.
• The other case has been filed by 21 State Attorneys General which addresses IMLS, and other agencies named in the Executive Order.
  • The judge in this case issued a Preliminary Injunction that orders the restoration of the IMLS staff and requires the processing, disbursement, and payment of already-awarded grants in the 21 states who brought the case.
  • The government recently appealed the decision and has asked for a stay or pause on the injunction while the courts consider their appeal and filed a declaration in the case.
  • IMLS staff began returning to work on May 20.
  • Many grantees in the 21 states recently received notice from IMLS of their grants being reinstated due to the injunction, however, as noted in the reinstatement letters, it is unclear how long the reinstatements will last given the government’s appeal and ongoing court actions.

The court actions will be a lengthy process and uncertainty around the future of IMLS will likely continue for some time.

AAM and our partner museum associations are in communication with those working on these cases about the ways that the museum community can be most helpful. We will continue to keep you informed about how these court cases impact your work and ensure that museums’ issues are represented in these legal proceedings. You can continue to find updates on AAM’s website.

Congressional Advocacy

While these court cases seek temporary relief for employees and grantees of IMLS, our priority as a field continues to be ensuring that Congress preserves federal funding and other support for museums in its Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) appropriations bills. One of the key arguments in the lawsuits is that the President cannot eliminate the agency and not use the funding appropriated to the agency without Congressional approval. Because of this, it’s critical that Congress continues to fund these agencies.

We are hearing from Congress that your outreach and the press coverage has gotten their attention and has helped them understand how the funding they approve impacts the constituents they serve.

As the various budget and appropriations bills work their way through Congress over the coming months, we will share updates and ask for targeted engagement from museum professionals.

What You Can Do Right Now

• Invite your members of Congress to visit your museum now. They are in their home districts for the entire month of August. Make sure museums are on their August agenda. Their schedules fill up quickly. Use our how-to guide to Invite Congress to your museum.
• Join our free webinar on May 29 at 2pm ET on In-District Advocacy: Advocating to State and Federal Lawmakers. Learn about engaging with your lawmakers when they are in their home districts and how to make the most out of these engagements.

AAM’s Recent Activities

• AAM’s President and CEO Marilyn Jackson provided written testimony to the House Appropriations Committee:
  • Support of funding for the IMLS Office of Museums Services
  • Support of funding NEH, NEA, Smithsonian Institution, and Historic Preservation Programs
• AAM has been working closely with the offices of Senator Gillibrand (D-NY) and Representatives Paul Tonko (D-NY), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), and Mike Turner (R-OH) to circulate a Congressional sign on letter supporting IMLS Office of Museum Services funding for FY26. The sign on deadline is May 22 and we will share the list of signers once the deadline has passed. Thank you to all who contacted their Representative and Senators urging them to sign on to these letters.
• AAM President & CEO, Marilyn Jackson has recently authored and co-authored two op-eds:
  • The Trump Administration Is Not Just Erasing History, They’re Rewriting the Future and Attacking Democracy
  • How Trump’s Funding Cuts Could Erase 250 Years of Museum History – and Impact Everyday Americans

Please keep up the great work you are doing in your community and continue to tell us how we can support you.

In partnership,

Marilyn Jackson

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Update 5/15/25

On May 13, the Judge in the 21 states’ attorneys general case issued a ruling to halt the dismantling of IMLS and ordered the agency to revert back to pre-executive order status including restoring staff and contractors and resuming “the processing, disbursement, and payment of already-awarded funding.” The Administration has seven days to submit a status report to the Court. It is unclear how the Administration will implement the Judge’s order and we expect the government will likely appeal the decision. AAM will continue to follow these developments closely.

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Update 5/3/25

On May 2, The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), similar to actions by IMLS and NEH, also began terminating grant awards. It’s not clear how many awards so far have been terminated. If your grant was terminated, please see AAM’s Advocacy Alert from April 11 that includes information for those with terminated grants.

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Update 5/2/25

Lawsuit Update: On May 1, 2025, a judge granted a Temporary Restraining Order to prevent the Trump Administration from further dismantling the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) while the judge continues to review the merits of the case. This is a positive development that prevents additional grant terminations and staff cuts from taking place during this time. Unfortunately, it does not undo the staffing cuts or grant terminations that have already taken place. Overall, this is a successful first step in what is expected to be a lengthy legal process.

Reinstated Grants: The week of April 28, we received reports of additional grant terminations by IMLS but also reports of at least a handful of previously terminated grants being reinstated. If your grant was reinstated, please let AAM know by filling out this form. AAM would like to assess how widespread the grant reinstatements are and if there are any patterns to the grant reinstatements.

Read additional information and updates in the 5/2/25 Advocacy Alert.

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Update 4/11/25

If you received an IMLS termination letter, AAM is encouraging museums to file an appeal with IMLS.

• Please review Procedures for Requesting a Review of Suspension or Termination beginning on p. 20.
• Email the appeal to Director Sonderling at ksonderling@imls.gov with copy to grantsadmin@imls.gov and IMLS General Counsel at ogc@imls.gov.
• Also use the eGMS system to file your termination appeal as it is the official record for the government.
• We have been told that it’s unclear if organizations will be reimbursed for expenses accrued prior to the date of termination. Thus, it is very important to submit all expenses accrued for federal grants prior to the date on the termination letter.
• If you have received a reimbursement for expenses accrued in February and/or March, please let AAM know.

View the 4/11/25 Advocacy Alert for additional resources and actions to take for grant terminations from any agency.

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Update 4/8/25

We have heard from a number of museums that IMLS grant terminations have been sent throughout the day today. If your grant has been terminated:

If your grant has been terminated:

• Contact your members of Congress immediately. They need to be aware of the direct impacts. They will not know if you do not tell them. Call AND write to ensure the message gets received. AAM has set up a template you can use. You will need to add into the template as much information as possible about the grant and the impacts of losing it. During Museums Advocacy Day, we heard from many Congressional offices that they wanted to be notified if any grants were delayed or terminated for museums in their districts.
• If you have connections to Congressional staff, please contact them directly.
• Review the National Council of Nonprofits checklist “What to do when your federal grant or contract is terminated”
• Please also let AAM know if your grant has been terminated.
• If you are responding to the termination letters, please do so through the eGMS system, or official grants reporting system.
• If you are a Federally recognized tribe whose grant has been terminated, you should also contact the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
• Share your story with local media

Find additional resources on what to do when your grant has been terminated from the Council of Nonprofits and the Transmitter.

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Update 4/7/25

On April 4, a coalition of 21 state attorneys general filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration for attempting to dismantle the Institute of Museum and Library Services. 

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Update 4/3/25

In the last few days, news came out that the National Endowment of the Humanities (NEH) will likely be targeted by the end of this week to cut its staff by 70-80%. We have also learned of grant terminations by both NEH and IMLS being sent out to some grantees.

If your grant has been terminated:

• Contact your members of Congress immediately. They need to be aware of the direct impacts. They will not know if you do not tell them. Call AND write to ensure the message gets received. AAM has set up a template you can use. You will need to add into the template as much information as possible about the grant and the impacts of losing it. During Museums Advocacy Day, we heard from many Congressional offices that they wanted to be notified if any grants were delayed or terminated for museums in their districts.
• If you have connections to Congressional staff, please contact them directly.
• Review the National Council of Nonprofits checklist “What to do when your federal grant or contract is terminated”
• Please also let AAM know if your grant has been terminated.
• If you are responding to the termination letters, please do so through the eGMS system, or official grants reporting system.
• If you are a Federally recognized tribe whose grant has been terminated, you should also contact the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
• Share your story with local media

Find additional resources on what to do when your grant has been terminated from the Council of Nonprofits and the Transmitter.

Continue to Put Pressure on Congress:

If you don’t have a grant that was terminated, please continue to engage your members of Congress and your state legislators.

• Share influential stories on your social media channels on how your museum impacts the community
• Visit Your Legislators Locally: Members of Congress will be in their home districts for two weeks in April 13-27, periodically home for extended weekends, and for all of August. Take the opportunity to invite your members of Congress to your museum, schedule a meeting with them in their district offices, or attend public forums that your members of Congress might be hosting.
• Share your story with local media.
• Write AND call your members of Congress about the impacts of gutting these agencies (note, AAM has updated this template to include NEH and IMLS)
• Write AND call your state-level elected officials and ask them to join in speaking up to members of Congress.
• Encourage your museum’s Board, supporters, and members to write and call their members of Congress.

AAM continues to work with Congressional champions to identify viable options to help support the museum community. Continue to check this webpage for further updates.

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Update 3/31/25

On March 31, the entire Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) staff was placed on administrative leave.

Placing the entire staff on administrative leave raises questions as to whether the agency will be able to fulfill its legal obligations to disburse congressionally appropriated funding, leaving museums, libraries, and communities across the country at risk of losing vital resources.  

This move continues to undermine the will of the American people—96% of whom want to see federal funding for museums maintained or increased—and prevents American taxpayer dollars from reaching America’s communities.

IMLS makes up only 0.0046% of the federal budget and efficiently provides critical resources to libraries and museums in all 50 states and territories in communities rural to urban. The museum sector, in turn, generates $50 billion in economic impact. Museums are vital community anchors, serving all Americans, including youth, seniors, people with disabilities, and veterans. Museums are not only centers for education and inspiration but also economic engines—creating jobs, driving tourism, and strengthening local economies.

We are in communication with our coalition partners and other stakeholders to assess the sector’s legal options.

If your legally promised grant or contract gets delayed or canceled, please let your members of Congress know immediately. They need to hear how their districts and states are being impacted by these actions. Be as specific as possible on what is being lost.

We encourage you to continue to get the word out about the impacts of the dismantling of IMLS.

• Write AND call your members of Congress about what could be lost if IMLS is gutted.
• Write AND call your state-level elected officials and ask them to join in speaking up to members of Congress.
• Encourage your museum’s Board, supporters, and members to write and call their members of Congress.
• Share your story with local media.
• Invite Congress: Members of Congress will be in their home districts for two weeks in April 13-27, periodically home for extended weekends, and for all of August. Take the opportunity to invite your members of Congress to your museum, schedule a meeting with them in their district offices, or attend public forums that your members of Congress might be hosting.
• If you attended Museums Advocacy Day, contact staff members you met to let them know about the staff being placed on administrative leave.

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Update 3/28/25

Museum Associations Letter: AAM and eight other museum association leaders sent a welcome letter to Sonderling reiterating the important roles museums play in American society, the economy, and education, and the strong bipartisan support that exists for museums and IMLS.

Senate Letter: Senators Jack Reed (D-RI), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Susan Collins (R-ME), and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), who were the lead authors of the Museum and Library Services Act of 2018, sent a letter to Sonderling reminding the Administration of its obligation to faithfully execute the provisions of the law as authorized and appropriated.

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Update 3/26/25

Representatives Dina Titus (NV-01) and Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) are circulating a letter for other members of the House of Representatives to sign onto asking the Administration to reconsider the executive order that guts the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). Please CALL your members of the House of Representatives to ask them to sign onto the letter. The deadline for members of Congress to sign onto the letter is Friday, March 28 so calling will be the best option given the short turnaround time. AAM has created a draft script you may use. Type in your address to display your House member’s phone number.

On March 20, Deputy Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling was appointed as Acting Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to carry out the Executive Order Continuing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy at IMLS. The National Museum and Library Services Board sent Acting Director Sonderling a welcome letter that lays out the agency’s statutory mandates. The Board serves in an official advisory capacity to the Director of IMLS.

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Update 3/17/25

TAKE ACTION NOW!

On March 14, President Trump issued an Executive Order (EO), Continuing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy, directing further cuts to the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), an agency that is already operating at a minimum level, making up only 0.0046% of the overall federal budget. IMLS efficiently provides critical resources to libraries and museums in all 50 states and territories.  This EO would essentially gut IMLS within seven days.  We are in communication with our coalition partners, agency contacts, and champions on Capitol Hill to assess the full impacts of the Executive Order and will provide updates here.

Now is the time to speak up for museums and save IMLS. Find step-by-step instructions on what you can do right now!

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Resources 

Take action to save IMLS

AAM is hosting three webinars in March to help the field process the challenges caused by recent Executive Orders:

March 13: Censorship and Self-censorship in Museums
March 20: Executive Orders, Federal Grant Funding, and the Future of Museum Support
March 24: The Legal Implications of DEI Executive Orders on Museums

16 Attorneys General issue guidance on the legality of DEI in the workplace

This helpful article from HBR provides insight on shifting language around DEI

FAQ from Venable on the federal funding freeze

This chart from the National Council of Nonprofits outlines some of the Executive Orders (EOs) which President Trump has signed since January 20 that may affect nonprofits directly or indirectly. It is updated periodically with new developments, and covers a broad range of issues including diversity, equity, and inclusion programs; government grants and contracts; census and civic engagement; and immigration. It covers how nonprofits serving LGBTQ+ communities may be affected, and how nonprofits who work with federal government partners and granting agencies may face new challenges. While some of the EOs won’t take effect immediately, and many are expected to be challenged in court, staying informed about these rapidly evolving changes can help museums prepare for the path ahead.

This chart from the Education Counsel outlines the potential impacts of recent executive orders on early childhood, K-12, and higher education.

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Past Updates from AAM

Update 3/15/25

Last night, the Administration issued a new Executive Order aimed at gutting the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). Eliminating the only federal agency dedicated to supporting museums directly undermines the will of the people (96% of whom want to see federal funding maintained or increased for museums) and the critical roles museums and museum workers play in American society.

We’re coordinating with our partners and champions on Capitol Hill to interpret the full implications of this order, and you can expect an update from us first thing on Monday with calls to action.

What can you do right now? Prepare ahead. We will give you the tools to tell your story, but no one can tell it better than you can. Your federal, state, and locally elected officials need to hear directly from you—their constituents—about how your museums and communities have been supported through IMLS funding and what’s at stake if this order stands: education, jobs, conservation, and vital programs for your community. Get ready to tell your story on Monday—the future of the museum field depends on all of us.

Update 2/3/25

Read a letter to our members from AAM President & CEO, Marilyn Jackson

A survey was distributed to museum CEOs to assess the impacts of recent Executive Orders and threats to federal funding. If you are a museum CEO and have not received this survey, please email research@aam-us.org. Your answers are valuable whether or not your museum receives federal funding.

Share your biggest questions and concerns with us. Responses will help us work with our partners to share updates and resources with the field. All responses are anonymous and will not be shared publicly.

Update 1/29/25 1:35 pm

The administration has rescinded the federal funding freeze order.

Update 1/29/25 12:13 pm

The information below is provided by the National Council of Nonprofits, of which AAM is a member.

Just before the federal funding freeze was set to take effect, United States District Court Judge Loren L. AliKhan issued an Administrative Stay through Monday, February 3 at 5:00 pm. The stay allows time for both sides of the case to present the judge with more information, so the court can make a more lasting ruling. With the Administrative Stay in place, nonprofits have a few days to try to gain more clarity over whether their programs are affected and to make contingency plans. Our hope is that Judge AliKhan will find in our favor and put a more lasting order in place. And Monday may not be the final word on this, as either side may appeal this all the way to the Supreme Court. For now, nonprofits should be taking these next few days to make contingency plans, just in case. If you receive any federal funding – whether directly from the federal government or a pass-through, such as a state or locality – reach out to your grant/contract contact immediately to ask if you will be affected if the freeze is allowed to go into effect.

Update: 1/28/25 5:38 pm

A federal judge has temporarily halted President Trump’s pause on federal funding through at least 5 pm ET Monday, February 3.

 

Update: 1/28/25 4:55 pm

Last night, the Trump Administration announced a temporary pause on the disbursements of funds and other activities that “may be implicated by” the administration’s recent executive orders.

This action would “temporarily” halt billions of dollars in federal grants and loans to organizations across the country. The memo leaves many federal payments in jeopardy — including grants and loans issued to charities, research bodies, and all types of nonprofits, including museums.

The text of the order is here. It raises large constitutional questions, is getting significant pushback from advocacy coalitions and Congressional leaders, and is already being challenged in lawsuits.

While we take issue with much of the language of this memo, our immediate concern is for museum staff, and the communities they serve, whose livelihoods depend on these legally awarded grants and contracts.

We ask that you please contact your members of Congress using our template letter to express your concerns about how this memo will impact your museum or community. Update: As of 1/29/2025, the administration has rescinded the federal funding freeze order.