A coalition of 21 state attorneys general is suing the Trump administration for attempting to dismantle federal agencies including the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
New York Attorney General Letitia James is co-leading the coalition with the attorneys general of Rhode Island and Hawaii.
Also joining the lawsuit are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Maine, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin.
The coalition has been formed after US President Donald Trump signed an executive order that would effectively dismantle the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).
Grants for state libraries and museums cut
Trump’s order, which was signed on 14 March would eliminate the only federal agency dedicated to supporting and funding museums.
As a result of the order, the IMLS has placed almost its entire staff on administrative leave and will cut hundreds of grants for state libraries and museums.
In addition to the IMLS, the lawsuit filed by the coalition seeks to prevent the dismantling of two other agencies – the Minority Business Development Agency and the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.
“The Trump administration is launching another attack on vulnerable communities, small businesses, and our children’s education,” James said in a statement.
“The agencies they are attempting to dismantle support workers nationwide, provide funding to help minority-owned businesses, and make sure our libraries and museums stay open so children can engage in lifelong learning.
“My office will continue to stand up to this administration’s chaos and destruction, and defend critical services that communities throughout New York and the nation depend upon.”
IMLS staff put on administrative leave
The coalition argues that Trump’s executive order “violates the Constitution and the Administrative Procedure Act by eliminating the programs of agencies without any regard for the laws and regulations that govern each source of federal funding”.
It argues that the president “cannot decide to unilaterally override laws governing federal spending, and that this executive order unconstitutionally overrides Congress’s power to decide how federal funds are spent”.
Images courtesy of the Franklin Institute and IMLS
