Restore IMLS: ALA Goes to Court

JUNE 9 UPDATE: On June 6, a federal judge in Washington issued a ruling on ALA's request for a preliminary injunction in our ongoing legal case, ALA v. Sonderling. ALA and our partners are analyzing the impacts of this court decision and our next steps in our litigation.

A March 14, 2025, Executive Order effectively began the process of eliminating the only federal agency dedicated to the nation’s libraries and museums. While constituting less than .003 of the federal budget, the nonpartisan Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) provides essential support for our nation’s 125,000 public, K12 school, higher education, and other libraries.

As the country celebrated National Library Week, the ALA and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) asked a federal judge on April 7 to halt the dismantling of IMLS and filed a motion for a preliminary injunction in a lawsuit that was initiated on behalf of ALA and AFSCME by Democracy Forward and co-counsel Gair Gallo Eberhard LLP. On May 1, a federal court granted a temporary restraining order to halt the administration’s gutting of IMLS. The ruling temporarily prevents any further actions that would affect staff or grants, including the mass layoffs of nearly all IMLS staff that were originally scheduled to begin May 4.

In a separate lawsuit brought by the attorneys general of 21 states, on May 14, a federal judge granted a preliminary injunction to reverse all steps the agency previously had taken to implement the executive order, restoring IMLS employees and contractors who were placed on leave or terminated, ordering the administration not to cancel grants, and to resume processing of payments to grantees in the 21 plaintiff states.

These are significant steps forward—but the fight is far from over. While the courts consider the merits of our case, we can't lose sight of the future of funding for IMLS.

Join us as a Supporter of the American Library Association — because there’s never been a more important time to stand up for libraries.

Every advocate must tell Congress to #FundLibraries. Make your voice heard!

Find out more ways we can Show Up #ForOurLibraries!

News