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This page serves as a hub for advocacy updates, alerts, and discussions related to public funding for museums. We’ll update it regularly as new information becomes available. If you have additional resources to share, we encourage you to contact us.
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News/UpdatesIn 'Major Setback' for Michigan Arts, Trump Terminates Federal Grants (Bridge Michigan, 5/21/25) Trump Administration Seeks to Starve Libraries and Museums of Funding by Shuttering This Little-Known Agency (The Good Men Project, 5/17/25) Federal Funding Cut Puts Michigan's Cultural and Educational Programming at Risk (MidMichiganNow.com, 4/23/25) DOGE Has Decimated the Institute of Museum and Library Services (Artnet, 3/31/25) Federal Funding for Libraries and Museums on the Chopping Block (New America, 3/26/25)* Michigan libraries, museums brace for loss of federal funds after Trump executive order (Detroit Free Press, 3/25/25)* Stateside: Monday, March 24, 2025 (Michigan Public Radio, 3/25/25) What’s happening with the Institute of Museum and Library Services after Trump’s executive order (AP, 3/20/25) Federal cuts could hurt libraries & museums across UP (TV 6, 3/20/25) Trump administration seeks to starve libraries and museums of funding by shuttering this little-known agency (The Conversation, 3/20/25) Keith E. Sonderling Sworn In as Acting Director of Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS, 3/20/25) Federal agency responsible for library and museum funding gets a visit from DOGE (Michigan Public, 3/20/25) Michigan rural libraries brace for hit from Trump order targeting spending (Bridge Michigan, 3/19/25)*
MMA Statement on the Placing of IMLS Staff on Administrative LeaveIssued by the Michigan Museums Association on April 1, 2025 The decision to place the entire staff of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) on administrative leave is an outrageous and reckless move that threatens the very institutions it was created to support. The Michigan Museums Association staff and board condemn this unprecedented action, which disrupts essential funding, programming, and resources that countless museums, libraries, and communities depend on. IMLS is a federally authorized agency, legally established and funded by Congress, with a critical mandate to support cultural and educational institutions across the nation. It is unacceptable for an agency of this importance to be thrown into chaos without a clear, public justification. Immediate action must be taken to restore IMLS operations before irreparable harm is done. We urge you to contact your members of Congress to demand transparency, accountability, and the swift reinstatement of IMLS staff. Our communities cannot afford this disruption, and we must take action now. Joint Statement on IMLS from Michigan Libraries, Museums, and ArchivesIssued by the Michigan Library Association on March 18, 2025 On March 14, 2025, President Trump issued an Executive Order (EO) that adversely affects the only federal agency that provides resources to our nation’s libraries, museums, and archives. The EO “Continuing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy” directs the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to eliminate non-statutory programs and reduce its functions and personnel to the minimum required by law. For IMLS, this would mean a dramatic reduction in its scope and capacity to support our nation's cultural institutions. Libraries and museums across the country will feel the effects of these cuts, particularly in areas reliant on discretionary funding and special initiatives. Michigan receives modest federal funding from IMLS, but our 397 public library systems, 87 academic libraries, nearly 3,000 school libraries, 650 museums, and hundreds of historical organizations pride themselves on using these resources efficiently and innovatively to deliver outstanding programs and services. The changes to IMLS ordered in the EO would be devastating to the cultural and literary landscape enjoyed by all Michigan residents. What is at stake if IMLS reduces its workforce and dismantles programming, funding, and services to our libraries, museums, and archives? Close to $2.25 million/year in individual grants to our libraries, and an additional $1.77 million/year for our museums and archives could be affected. In addition, the Library of Michigan may be adversely affected if the $4.78 million Grants to States were to cease including:
We strongly support continued funding and staffing and implore President Trump to rescind this Executive Order. Our goal is to ensure that the IMLS continues to fund worthy and essential library, museum, and archival programs that benefit Michigan communities well into the future. In Fiscal Year 2024, the government spent $6.75 trillion, exceeding its revenue and resulting in a deficit. While the stated purpose of the EO is to reduce bureaucracy and waste, it is unreasonable to target the federal funding allocated to libraries and museums that represents just a tiny fraction – approximately 0.0043% in FY 2024 – of the federal budget. This minimal investment supports institutions that are vital to education, cultural preservation, and community enrichment. While funding for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2025 (ending Sept. 2025) has been appropriated to the IMLS in the newly approved Continuing Resolution, we have no guarantees of funding for IMLS in the Fiscal Year 2026 budget. It is time to take a stand and speak up today by calling, writing, emailing, visiting, or sending a letter to your federal elected officials. We encourage you to use one of the links below that have been set up by various national organizations. Contact your legislators and tell them to continue fully funding IMLS – both discretionary programs and those explicitly mandated by law. Don’t forget that your communication will be stronger by adding your own words, and how this will affect you, your cultural institution, and your community. American Library Association: https://app.oneclickpolitics.com/campaign-page?cid=9CyapZUB9sorxFLO4J0c&lang=en EveryLibrary: https://action.everylibrary.org/saveimls2025 American Association for State and Local History: https://www.congressweb.com/aam/94/ American Alliance of Museums: https://www.congressweb.com/aam/95/ Collectively, we the undersigned, stand together and call on all Michiganders who value reading, learning, history, and enrichment to take a stand in support of our libraries, museums, and archives. We urge President Trump to rescind the EO targeting IMLS and implore Congress to continue fully funding IMLS at levels that protect both discretionary and statutory programs. Sincerely, Deborah E. Mikula Executive Director, Michigan Library Association Steven Bowers President, Library Cooperatives of Michigan Christine Beachler President, Michigan Association of School Librarians Mies Martin President, Michigan Academic Library Association Lisa Craig Brisson Executive Director, Michigan Museums Association Elizabeth Nicholson Green President, Michigan Archival Association Larry J. Wagenaar Executive Director and CEO, Historical Society of Michigan  Urgent: Act Now to Save IMLS (American Alliance of Museums)Issued by the American Alliance of Museums on March 17, 2025. NOW is the time to speak up for museums!
Share this information with your entire staff and board, and urge them to take action TODAY! Save the Institute of Museum & Library ServicesInformation on 5 calls website [we encourage you to call through them directly] (accessed 3/20/25) On Friday, March 14th, Trump signed an executive order that calls for there elimination of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the nation’s only federal agency for America’s libraries. Americans have loved and relied on public, school and academic libraries for generations. By eliminating the only federal agency dedicated to funding library services, this EO is cutting off at the knees the most beloved and trusted of American institutions and the staff and services they offer:
To dismiss some 75 committed workers and mission of an agency that advances opportunity and learning is to dismiss the aspirations and everyday needs of millions of Americans. And those who will feel that loss most keenly live in rural communities. Call on your representatives to show up for America’s libraries and urge the White House to maintain the IMLS’s modest federal funding. Materials provided by the American Library Association ScriptHi, my name is [NAME] and I’m a constituent from [CITY, ZIP]. I’m calling to urge [REP/SEN NAME] to work to protect federal funding for the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Libraries and museums are vital parts of our communities and provide so many essential services. Please show up for our libraries and urge the White House to hold back its attack on their funding. Thank you for your time and consideration. IF LEAVING VOICEMAIL: Please leave your full street address to ensure your call is tallied. | Joint Letter Urging Congress to Fund IMLSMLA and a coalition of associations representing Michigan’s libraries, museums, and historical societies have sent a joint letter to Congressional leaders urging them to support funding the Institute of Museum and Library Services in FY 2026. Without IMLS support, schools, libraries, historical organizations, universities, and community colleges would face major challenges in sustaining these programs, especially those with limited local funding. The economies of scale that make these statewide services affordable would disappear. For example, the current cost of MeL database subscriptions statewide is $2,481,885 annually. If each institution were to purchase those resources independently, the total cost would skyrocket to $66,910,870. Michigan residents depend on these programs for education, career development, and access to reliable information. Continued federal funding through IMLS is essential to ensuring equal access for all. ______________________________________ Dear Congressman, On behalf of a coalition of associations representing Michigan’s libraries, museums, and historical societies, we write today to urge your support for funding the Institute of Museum and Library Services. On March 14, the federal administration issued an Executive Order (EO) titled “Continuing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy”, which directs the IMLS to eliminate non-statutory programs and reduce its functions and personnel to the minimum required by law. Libraries, museums, archives, and historical organizations across the country will feel the effects of these cuts, as they support widely popular statewide programs that benefit Michiganders. On May 2, the federal administration released its fiscal year 2026 discretionary budget, which calls for the complete elimination of IMLS funding. While lawsuits challenging the EO make their way through the courts, we believe it’s critical that Michigan’s Congressional leaders take a strong stance in defense of IMLS and all the communities it serves. IMLS funds provide the majority of support for statewide programs that are used every day across public libraries, K-12 schools, and higher education. Michigan’s eLibrary (MeL) provides access to 85+ online databases that Michiganders rely on for workforce development, research, digitized newspapers, genealogy, homework help, and much more. In 2024, Michigan residents accessed 19 million+ trusted articles and journals through MeL. Michigan’s eLibrary Catalog (MeLCat) - our statewide interlibrary loan system - allows Michiganders in every corner of the state to borrow materials from other libraries. That program saw 1 million+ books and other materials shared between libraries in 2024. The changes proposed in the EO and the FY26 budget would cause lasting harm to Michigan’s cultural and educational infrastructure. While the state receives relatively modest federal funding from IMLS, our 397 public libraries, 87 academic libraries, nearly 3,000 school libraries, 650 museums, and hundreds of historical organizations use these funds efficiently and creatively to provide valuable service to the public. In fact, for every dollar spent, $27.00 was returned to Michigan communities through these valuable services. A June 2025 statewide poll commissioned by the Michigan Library Association also revealed broad support from Michigan residents for continued federal library funding. 78% of respondents said that IMLS funding from the federal government should remain as part of the federal budget. Without IMLS support, schools, libraries, historical organizations, universities, and community colleges would face major challenges in sustaining these programs, especially those with limited local funding. The economies of scale that make these statewide services affordable would disappear. For example, the current cost of MeL database subscriptions statewide is $2,481,885 annually. If each institution were to purchase those resources independently, the total cost would skyrocket to $66,910,870. Michigan residents depend on these programs for education, career development, and access to reliable information. Continued federal funding through IMLS is essential to ensuring equal access for all. We respectfully urge you to advocate for IMLS funding in the FY2026 federal budget. Thank you for your ongoing service to Michigan and our shared constituents. Sincerely, Dillon Geshel Christine Beachler Lisa Craig Brisson Steven K. Bowers Julie Garrison Larry J. Wagenaar Elizabeth Nicholson Green
AAM Statement on the Growing Threats of Censorship Against U.S. MuseumsIssued by the American Alliance of Museums on 8/15/25 For Immediate Release Arlington, VA–Today, the American Alliance of Museums, the only organization representing the entire scope of the museum field, issued a statement in response to the growing threats of censorship against U.S. museums: Our country’s 22,000 museums are cornerstones of their communities and are among the most trusted institutions in American life. They tell our nation’s stories from multiple perspectives, welcome people of all ages and backgrounds, contribute billions to the U.S. economy each year, serve communities both rural and urban, and protect the heritage we all share. In recent months, museums have faced increasing external pressures to modify, remove, or limit exhibitions and programs. People trust museums because they rely on independent scholarship and research, uphold high professional standards, and embrace open inquiry. When any directive dictates what should or should not be displayed, it risks narrowing the public’s window into evidence, ideas, and a full range of perspectives. This is not just a concern for select institutions. These pressures can create a chilling effect across the entire museum sector. Freedom of thought and expression are foundational American values, and museums uphold them by creating spaces where people can engage with history, science, art, and culture in ways that are honest, fact-based, and thought-provoking. We stand with the hundreds of thousands of museum professionals in the U.S. who protect our heritage, conserve species, create unforgettable experiences, and serve their communities with integrity. We call on all who value our shared heritage to support the museum field in resisting censorship, so museums can continue to educate, connect, and inspire. America needs museums and the professionals who steward them. They educate, connect, and help us understand one another—something we can’t afford to lose. ### AASLH's Statement on White House Interference at the SmithsonianIssued by the American Association for State and Local History on 8/15/25 The White House’s latest, most concerted effort yet to bend the Smithsonian Institution to its will through a “comprehensive review” of content and policies—starting with its foremost museums of history, culture, and art—is an affront to our country’s cultural crown jewel, to history practitioners everywhere, and to the American people. AAM Advocacy Alert
AAM Advocacy Alert
AAM Advocacy AlertIssued by the American Alliance of Museums on 6/13/25
AAM Advocacy AlertIssued by the American Alliance of Museums on 6/10/2025
AAM Advocacy Alert
AAM Advocacy Alert
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AAM Advocacy Alert
AAM Advocacy AlertIssued by the American Alliance of Museums on 4/1/2025
AAM Statement on the Placing of IMLS Staff on Administrative LeaveIssued by the American Alliance of Museums on March 31, 2025. 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. IMLS Update and Take ActionIssued by the American Alliance of Museums on March 26, 2025. IMLS Update Call your House Member to urge them to sign on to the IMLS letter. Thank you to everyone who has already written and called your members of Congress since our alert went out last week. 45,000 letters and calls have gone through AAM's letter writing system. Keep it up! Actions You Can Take NOW:
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The Michigan Museums Association is supported in part by an award from the Michigan Arts and Culture Council.
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