For immediate release | May 15, 2025

ALA Welcomes Preliminary Injunction Restoring Some Grants, Staff of Federal Library Agency

Washington, D.C. – The American Library Association (ALA) welcomed the preliminary injunction granted on May 13 by Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., of the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island, in a lawsuit brought by 21 states’ attorneys general against President Donald Trump and members of his Administration for unlawful actions taken to eliminate the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).

“ALA is encouraged by Judge McConnell's order,” said ALA President Cindy Hohl. "The preliminary injunction is good news – at least temporarily – for many libraries and other institutions, which will be able to resume services suspended due to the administration’s executive order. IMLS funding is particularly important to libraries in small, rural and Tribal communities, where federal funding is vital to their survival." Hohl continued.

The preliminary injunction orders the Trump Administration to take certain actions while the court considers the full case. Specifically, the court ordered the Administration:

  • Not to implement President Trump’s March 14 executive order to eliminate IMLS, and to reverse all steps the agency previously had taken to implement the executive order;
  • Not to take further actions to eliminate IMLS;
  • To restore IMLS employees and contractors who were placed on leave or terminated; and
  • Not to cancel grants, and to resume processing of payments, to grantees in the 21 plaintiff states.

In a separate case brought by ALA, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on May 1 granted a temporary restraining order to block the Trump Administration’s dismantling of IMLS. Further court action is expected in ALA’s case by May 29.

Contact:

Shawnda Hines

Deputy Director, Communications

Public Policy and Advocacy

shines@ala.org

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