The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) has reinstated all grants that were terminated under the previous administration. A brief notice on the agency’s website says the action “supersedes any prior notices which may have been received related to grant termination.”
IMLS, the independent federal agency that awards grants to museums and libraries, saw previously awarded funding canceled earlier this year after a presidential executive order. Library leaders warned the cuts disproportionately hurt small and rural libraries with limited alternative funding sources.
Attorneys general from 21 states sued the administration over the cancellations, and in November a Rhode Island district court judge ruled the administration’s actions unlawful. With the agency’s reinstatement, museums and libraries nationwide regain access to funds that had been held in limbo.
American Library Association President Sam Helmick called the reinstatement a “massive win” for libraries and added, “We are breathing a sigh of relief, but the fight is not finished,” noting the administration could appeal and Congress could choose not to fund IMLS in future years. The ALA urged supporters to remind elected officials why libraries need more—not fewer—resources.
Federal funding typically makes up a small portion of public libraries’ budgets but supports workforce training, pilot programs and core services such as internet access in rural communities. In 2024, IMLS awarded $266 million in grants to museums and libraries.