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 disperse 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.