Editor’s note: Keith Sonderling’s official role as Acting Director of IMLS ended in November, as these positions have time limits. Despite not officially being in the role anymore, he is still being given authority to make decisions and sign off on items like the notices of funding opportunities.
In November 2025, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) was spared further dismantling from the Trump administration thanks to a permanent injunction granted in Rhode Island v. Trump. This is one of two federal cases that followed the administration’s gutting of the agency in March.
Today, January 19, 2026, the Trump administration is appealing that decision to the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit the Court. It’s not an entirely surprising appeal, as those watching the case anticipated this to happen. The argument upon which the appeal hinges is yet unknown, though it will likely focus on the judge’s interpretation of the Tucker Act. That’s been one of the key arguments that the administration has used in its myriad cases over the last several months.
The appeal also underlines how much the administration is intent on shuttering the agency–especially since it appears that the full sunsetting of the IMLS won’t happen in the Fiscal Year 2026 budget. While neither the House nor Senate have yet to determine the FY 2026 budget for Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, where IMLS is housed, in prior markups, the agency retained a budget close to that of Fiscal Year 2025.
Judge John J. McConnell issued a permanent injunction in Rhode Island vs. Trump back in November. It directed that the IMLS cannot be further dismantled at the hands of the administration, and all grant funding must be restored. The IMLS, which lost more than half of its already-slim staff, would continue operations as it did prior to the March dismantling. At least, it would in theory.
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The IMLS is still helmed by Keith Sonderling, who promised early on to utilize the small government agency as an arm of government propaganda–something that’s become visible not only in the Freedom Truck project announced last fall, but also in the just-announced calls for various IMLS grants, something that the administration couldn’t cut but could certainly influence. The Notice of Funding Opportunities are rife with what the administration calls “field-wide programs and initiatives,” many of which link to Trump Executive Orders.
The notice for Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Grants include among those initiatives:
- “We are excited not only to support general improvements across the library field, but also to promote libraries as they teach Americans about their heritage and history, especially one of the greatest chapters in the human story– America’s founding.”
- “Meaningfully engage and educate communities about our nation’s great history and the incredible story of America’s founding, in fitting commemoration of the 250th anniversary of American Independence.”
- “Creatively and effectively use new technologies, including artificial intelligence, to improve both academic practices and visitor experiences at our nation’s libraries. Applicants are encouraged to read and consider EO 14277, “Advancing Artificial Intelligence Education for American Youth,” as they work on related projects.”
- “We welcome projects that refocus cultural institutions on what unites us by fostering respectful civil dialogue. In doing so, we acknowledge our core Constitutional Rights, including Free Exercise of Religion. Applicants may find it helpful to review and consider EO 14188, “Additional Measures to Combat AntiSemitism,” and EO 14202, “Eradicating Anti-Christian Bias,” as they work on projects to strengthen American civil society.”
- “IMLS has particular interest in exploring alternative pathways into the library services field. We are particularly excited about projects that explore innovative alternatives to traditional credentialing and librarian education. We are also interested in projects which explore cutting edge tools and fresh topics in the content and provision of continuing education.”
In other words, the projects most likely to be selected are those which aid in crafting a whitewashed history of America, focus on “freedom of religion,” and those which work to deprofessionalize librarianship itself. This puts IMLS staff members in a tough position of encouraging applicants for these grants while knowing that the agency’s priorities don’t align with what it is libraries are actually doing.