Trump Targets Libraries, Museums in Agency Gutting

NEW YORK – The Trump administration is under fire, facing a multi-state lawsuit spearheaded by New York Attorney General Letitia James, alleging a deliberate attempt to dismantle vital federal agencies. The target? The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), and the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS). The move, authorized by an Executive Order issued in March, is being called a brazen attack on public services and vulnerable communities.

Attorney General James, leading a coalition of 20 other Attorneys General, alleges the administration is enacting a politically motivated gutting of agencies crucial to the nation’s infrastructure. The IMLS, already reeling from the order, has reportedly placed almost its entire staff on administrative leave and is poised to slash funding for hundreds of state library and museum grants. This isn’t bureaucratic streamlining; it’s sabotage, according to the lawsuit.

“The Trump administration is launching another attack on vulnerable communities, small businesses, and our children’s education,” James stated bluntly. “The agencies they are attempting to dismantle support workers nationwide, provide funding to help minority-owned businesses, and make sure our libraries and museums stay open so children can engage in lifelong learning. My office will continue to stand up to this administration’s chaos and destruction, and defend critical services that communities throughout New York and the nation depend upon.”

The lawsuit details the devastating impact of the Executive Order. In 2024 alone, the IMLS invested $180 million nationwide through its Grants to States Program, with New York receiving over $8 million. This funding supported crucial literacy programs, training for over 200,000 library staff across New York’s 7,000 libraries, improved internet access, and the salaries of two-thirds of New York State Library employees. The administration’s actions threaten to decimate these services. The MBDA, meanwhile, has seen its staffing slashed from 40 to a mere five individuals, effectively halting new grant applications. The FMCS has suffered a similar fate, with staffing reduced from roughly 200 to fewer than 15 and core programs terminated, hindering workers’ ability to secure their rights.

The legal argument centers on the claim that the Executive Order violates both the Constitution and the Administrative Procedure Act. The coalition argues the administration is illegally eliminating programs established by Congress, bypassing the legislative process and undermining the rule of law. The suit seeks to halt the dismantling of the IMLS, MBDA, and FMCS, preserving the vital services they provide to millions of Americans.

This isn’t an isolated incident. Attorney General James and the coalition frame this Executive Order as the latest in a pattern of the Trump administration’s attempts to dismantle federal agencies in defiance of Congressional authority. The lawsuit promises a protracted legal battle, with the fate of critical public services hanging in the balance. Grimy Times will continue to follow this developing story, exposing the full extent of the administration’s actions and their impact on communities nationwide.

RELATED: James v. Trump: Lawsuit to Save Libs & Museums from Dismantle