An executive decree signed on March 14 by Donald Trump orders the abolition of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), an independent federal agency created in 1996, dependent on the National Foundation for the Arts and Humanities (founded in 1965, of which the National Endowment for the Arts) is also part. IMLS supports some 123,000 public, school and university libraries as well as 35,000 museums in the 50 States and territories in the United States.
The Institute of Museum and Library Service promotes access to culture through subsidies and supports projects in the fields of cultural heritage, educational offers, technologies in museums and libraries.
In 2024, the Institute, which had around 75 employees received a budget of more than $ 294 million (268 million euros) and distributed $ 267 million (243 million euros) to museums, libraries and archives throughout the country.
Among the subsidies granted this year are for example $ 10,000 (9,100 euros) for the Craig Tribal Association, an Amerindian tribe established on the island of Craig in Alaska. This subsidy aims to support the activities of their historic library. Or even 246,000 dollars (224,000 euros) for the New Museum of Contemporary Art in New York City, so that he can carry out an educational strategy based on respect for social, ethnic, religious and sexual differences.
The American Library Association (ALA), a professional non -profit association founded in 1876 which promotes the construction and improvement of libraries, asked the “President Trump to reconsider this short -sighted decision. We encourage members of the congress, senators and decision -makers at all levels of government to visit libraries that serve their voters and ask the White House to preserve the modest federal funding of American libraries. »»
In principle, this presidential decree does not require the approval of the congress to be implemented. However, some experts believe that Trump cannot, by a simple executive order, eliminate agencies created by the Congress, without specific legislation.
