Federal Agency Funding Libraries and Museums Placed on Leave
The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), a federal agency funding libraries and museums nationwide, has placed its entire staff of approximately 70 employees on paid administrative leave for up to 90 days. This action follows President Trump’s appointment of Keith E. Sonderling as acting director and a prior executive order reducing the agency’s size. The IMLS, which awarded $266 million in grants last year, now faces uncertainty regarding the status of existing grant programs due to the staff’s leave. This situation threatens to significantly impact libraries and museums, particularly small and rural institutions, which rely on IMLS funding for critical programs and services.
John Q. Hosedrinker