The Trump administration has dropped its appeal in Rhode Island v. Trump, upholding a federal judge's order to halt the dismantling of the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Judge John J. McConnell issued a permanent injunction in November, requiring the restoration of grant funding after the agency lost more than half its staff. The decision preserves operations for the federal agency supporting public libraries and museums.
In late January, the Trump administration appealed Judge McConnell's November ruling from the US District Court in Rhode Island. The injunction blocked further efforts to dismantle the IMLS and mandated restoring all grant funding. The agency, the only federal body dedicated to public libraries and museums, had lost over half its staff following a March executive action. On April 7, nearly a year after the lawsuit's filing, the administration withdrew the appeal, allowing the injunction to stand indefinitely. The move comes amid the administration's proposed 2027 budget, which seeks to defund the IMLS entirely. A second lawsuit, American Library Association v. Sonderling, remains pending after plaintiffs secured a temporary restraining order last May. Sam Helmick, president of the American Library Association, welcomed the development. “Today’s action finally lays to rest President Trump’s executive order that threatened countless library services available to anyone who walks into one of our nation’s 115,000 public, school, academic, and other libraries. This is a triumph for everyone who values access to information, education, and opportunity. Libraries can move forward with confidence that IMLS funding will be available to sustain the vital services communities rely on,” Helmick said. He urged supporters to contact Congress to protect the agency's future.
