In a significant pushback against the Trump administration's order to dismantle crucial federal agencies, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, leading a coalition of 21 attorneys general, has filed a lawsuit aimed at protecting an array of institutions and services across the United States. According to a release obtained by Illinois Attorney General's office, the lawsuit is a direct response to an executive order from March that threatens to disband agencies like the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), pivotal in providing financial support and services to public libraries, museums, workers, and minority-owned businesses nationwide.
The legal action comes as the administration has already begun to swiftly implement the order, placing almost the entire staff of the IMLS on administrative leave and slashing hundreds of grants integral to library and museum operations in multiple states. "The Institute of Museum and Library Services helps to ensure that art, culture, history and literacy are accessible for all," Raoul was cited in the Illinois Attorney General's statement. "Illegally cutting grants jeopardizes critical library programs across the state that make library materials available to smaller communities and provide education and access to technology for underserved youth." This lawsuit signifies an important move aimed at swiftly stopping the targeted destruction of not just the IMLS, but also the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) and the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS).
These agencies play a substantial role in underpinning culturally rich and informed communities. For instance, in 2024, the IMLS injected $180 million into libraries nationally through its Grants to States Program, with Illinois receiving about $5.7 million of that funding. The administration's actions, if left unchecked, will cut vital personnel across the country whose work extends essential services to their communities, especially to those underserved or located in rural areas. Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, also serving as State Librarian, expressed a commitment to safeguard this funding, telling the Illinois Attorney General's office, "Stripping these vital resources threatens the sustainability of our libraries and amounts to a disinvestment in an educated society."
The lawsuit is built on the premise that the president's executive order is not only unconstitutional but also infringes on laws outlined by the Administrative Procedure Act, as it seeks to eliminate the programs of agencies without adhering to laws and regulations that govern federal funding. The coalition firmly holds the position that the president cannot decide to unilaterally override Congressional control of federal spending. The staff cuts at the MBDA and the FMCS—from 40 to five and 200 to less than 15, respectively—have practically halted the issuance of new grants and threatened the resolution of labor disputes, hitting hard at minority-owned businesses and unionized workers' rights. The attorneys general from states including Arizona, California, and New York, among others, have joined Raoul in this legal fight, underscoring the wide support the action has garnered.
