Photo courtesy of the Children’s Discovery Museum in Normal.
The federal government directed the Institute of Museum and Library Services to terminate a grant for the Children’s Discovery Museum’s early childhood STEAM outreach program, saying it “no longer serves the interest of the United States.”
The Trump administration is dismantling the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), a tiny federal agency and primary source of federal funding for museums and libraries. Grants help libraries and museums in every state achieve high standards of excellence and serve their communities – through educational programming, exhibits, collections, professional development and library services.
On March 14, President Donald Trump issued an executive order to eliminate IMLS to the maximum extent possible. Keith Sonderling, deputy secretary of labor, was also made acting director of IMLS on March 20. On March 31, the entire staff was placed on administrative leave for 30 days. In early April, IMLS began terminating grants with contracts in place and funding previously authorized by Congress. The American Alliance of Museums (AAM) said it is aware of 97 grant terminations. These were reimbursement grants, making it uncertain if museums will be reimbursed for expenses already incurred.
“I am committed to steering this organization in lockstep with this administration to enhance efficiency and foster innovation,” said Sonderling at the time of his appointment. “We will revitalize IMLS and restore focus on patriotism, ensuring we preserve our country’s core values, promote American exceptionalism and cultivate love of country in future generations.”
“This is a much larger issue than cutting bureaucracy and saving money,” said Donna Sack, a longtime museum professional and past Illinois State Museum board chair who has served in leadership roles with Illinois, Midwest and national museum associations. “It is explicitly clear this is about limiting access to knowledge, hamstringing educators – both formal and informal – and controlling the historical narrative and censoring the arts in the most undemocratic of ways.”
IMLS funds libraries and museums nationwide
Congress appropriates nearly $300 million annually for IMLS. The majority goes to libraries, including $180 million for a statutorily authorized population-based formula allocation to every state. Illinois received $5.7 million in FY 2025, which is administered by the Illinois State Library. These funds support Illinois’ extensive interlibrary loan program, resource sharing among all types of libraries and other programs that serve library patrons statewide.
Greg McCormick, director of the Illinois State Library, told Illinois Times there has been no impact to date on the allocation to Illinois, and the State Library received notice of a partial award on April 23.
Libraries could previously apply directly to IMLS for competitive grants. These are being terminated, including a Laura Bush 21st Century Library Grant to the Consortium of Academic and Research Libraries in Illinois for a national continuing education program.
There is no formula allocation to states for museums. In FY 2024, $55 million was appropriated for multiple grant programs that museums compete for nationally. The review process is rigorous. Panels of museum professionals help evaluate applications to select those with the most impact. Most grants are matched by the museum.
The Children’s Discovery Museum in Normal was in the third year of a grant to expand its early childhood outreach program in partnership with community organizations. The termination letter from IMLS states its grant “…no longer serves the interest of the United States and the IMLS Program. IMLS is repurposing its funding allocations in a new direction in furtherance of the president’s agenda.” The letter also states, “Please remember that your obligations under the Grant Agreement continue to apply.”
IMLS terminated grants all over Illinois, among them grants to Brookfield Zoo, Field Museum, Chicago History Museum, Chicago Botanic Garden and to the U.S. Grant History Museum in Galena.
The Illinois State Museum Society received an April 15 email terminating its $175,000 grant to develop online learning experiences for students in pre–K through grade 12. Two other local museums have received no communication from IMLS.
The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum was awarded $250,000 to teach children about the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. A new “Citizen City” interactive exhibit will replace the Mrs. Lincoln’s Attic play area. Chris Wills, ALPLM communications director, told Illinois Times the project is still in the design phase. ALPLM has not yet accessed grant funds to build the exhibit.
“We don’t know how actions at the federal level will affect our grant,” said Wills. “Like institutions across the country, we are waiting for further information.”
The Springfield and Central Illinois African American History Museum was awarded a $75,000 grant to develop a new exhibit about the Springfield 1908 Race Riot. The museum has begun work but has not yet incurred expenses under the grant.
Previous IMLS grants also benefited the community. Kidzeum received a grant that helped launch a partnership with District 186 for an immersive STEAM residency for second-graders.
There has traditionally been bipartisan support for IMLS. The statute was reauthorized by Congress during the administrations of President Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Trump’s first term. It is up for reauthorization in September.
“The Trump administration’s push to eliminate IMLS funding is a threat to the libraries and museums that power learning in our communities,” U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinksi, D-Springfield, told IT. “IMLS grants are making a real difference here at home – from helping the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library create a new exhibit that inspires civic engagement in young people, to advancing literacy programs in the Metro East. I joined my colleagues in signing a letter to the administration opposing this shortsighted decision. I will continue fighting to protect the vital resources that empower our communities to learn, grow and thrive.”
U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood, a Republican, told IT that he has also supported funding for the IMLS during his time in Congress.
“Museums and local libraries play a critical role in our communities and help drive local economies,” LaHood said. “I appreciate the work done by organizations like Normal’s Children’s Discovery Museum. I will continue to work with the Trump administration to advocate for the importance of these community organizations and support efforts that benefit constituents in Illinois’ 16th Congressional District while preserving our nation’s history for future generations.”
Chaos and lawsuits
Actions to dismantle IMLS have been chaotic and confusing. All 75 staff members were placed on immediate administrative leave via a March 31 all-staff email and their email accounts abruptly disabled. A dozen were later called back, but without further action, the staff still on administrative leave will be terminated effective May 4.
Grant termination letters were sent via a generic email address rather than through the official online grants management system normally used to communicate with grantees. With program officers no longer working, museums are left wondering about the status of existing grants and pending grant applications.
The American Library Association and AFSCME filed a lawsuit April 7 contesting the cuts to IMLS. So did Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, along with 20 other state attorneys general. State, regional and national museum, library and history organizations joined the chorus of opposition.
The National Endowment for the Humanities, National Park Service and Smithsonian Institution are also feeling the effects of budget cuts, staff layoffs and directives meant to control the narratives of cultural institutions. On March 27, Trump signed an executive order, “Restoring Truth in American History,” which the White House said was aimed at “combating corrosive ideology.”
Sack, the longtime museum professional, had a different interpretation. “This executive order is attempting to wipe out all the gains made during the past few decades by museums, historic sites and our National Parks to tell a more honest and whole story of America,” she said.
John Chrastka, executive director of EveryLibrary; Marilyn Jackson, president and CEO of AAM; and Celina Stewart, CEO of the League of Women Voters, co-authored an op-ed for Newsweek, writing. “Recent executive orders … are acts of erasure – coordinated, sneaky attempts to cherry-pick our shared stories and decide who matters, censor our classrooms and strip our communities of the places we go to learn, to connect and to remember. … These aren’t just institutions … they are community pillars. They foster public dialogue, archive local histories and serve as the last truly nonpartisan spaces in American life. … This is about control – an attempt to control our history, and with it, the future of American democracy.”