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Federal Executive Order: Continuing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy

Published April 1, 2025

Last updated April 1, 2025

Executive Order Summary

President Trump signed this executive order (EO) late on March 14, 2025. The EO purports to be reducing federal bureacracy by requiring several more federal agencies to provide a report to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regarding what “non-statuatory components and functions” shall be eliminated, reducing their performance to the minimum personnel and functions required by law.
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is to reject any budget requests from the listed agencies “to the extent consistent with applicable law and except insofar as necessary to effectuate an expected termination” – in other words, rejected all funding excepts for funds needed to shut down the agencies.

What Agencies are affected and what do they do? (Text Citation)

  • The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS)
    • FMCS provides mediation and conflict resolution services to prevent or resolve labor disputes and improve labor-management relations.
  • The United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM)
    • USAGM is responsible for overseeing broadcasting services and media content that promote American values and information abroad. It aims to inform, engage, and connect people around the world in support of freedom and democracy.
  • The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in the Smithsonian Institution
    • This center serves as a living memorial to President Woodrow Wilson. It provides an intellectual space and resources for scholars, policymakers, and the public to engage in dialogue and research on national and world affairs.
  • The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)
    • The mission of IMLS is to advance, support, and empower America’s museums, libraries, and related organizations through grantmaking, research, and policy development. Its goal is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people with information and ideas.
  • The United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH)
    • The USICH mission is to end homelessness by working with federal agencies and its partners to create effective strategies and solutions.
  • The Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund)
    • The CDFI Fund supports community development by providing financing to community development financial institutions. It strives to increase economic opportunity and promote community development investments in underserved areas.
  • The Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA)
    • MBDA focuses on promoting the growth of minority-owned businesses by offering resources, programs, and initiatives.

What are our National and Partner Organizations saying?

  • American Library Association (ALA): ALA statement on White House assault on the Institute of Museum and Library Services
  • EveryLibrary: Statement on Trump’s Attack on Federal Funding for Libraries
    • “IMLS’s statutory obligations to state libraries include federal funding through the Grants to States program, the National Leadership Grant program, and all current contracts, grants, and awards. This core work cannot be disrupted or dismantled by DOGE.”
    • “Without this core federal funding for state libraries, museums, and archives, we risk losing critical programs and services in every state. This is the time to make your voice heard.”
  • Pennsylvania Humantities Council: Federal Cuts to Libraries and Museums Threaten PA Communities: PA Humanities Statement on IMLS Elimination
    • “At this critical moment, PA Humanities stands firmly against this proposal and is committed to advocating for continued investment in Pennsylvania’s libraries and museums.”
    • “This executive order threatens to disrupt local services, limit educational opportunities, and significantly undermine the work of cultural institutions across Pennsylvania. Museums and libraries serve as cornerstones of our communities and removing this lifeline would damage the social and economic fabric of our state, while jeopardizing the jobs of thousands of hardworking Pennsylvanians.”

What are the statuatory obligations of the IMLS?

IMLS’s statutory obligations, enacted by Congress and signed by President Trump in 2018 during his first term with PL 115-410 to continue the decades of work that IMLS and previous iterations of library and museum agencies have established, include federal funding through the Grants to States program, the National Leadership Grant program, and many other grants and awards. Some of the program funding is discretionary, but the Grants to States program is written as a “shall.” So the “minimum presence and function required by law” is a gray area.
Additionally, some provisions of law apply across all or several federal agencies, including IMLS. For instance, all executive agencies are required to comply with and implement the Freedom of Information Act. In addition, all federally funded education programs (which is considered to include libraries and museums) must comply with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.

Update: EveryLibrary has developed a guide to Understanding the “Shall” and “May” Language.

What is at stake for libraries?

IMLS distributes more than $160 million in funding to states, based on state populations, to carry out statewide services. For FY2024, Pennsylvania received $5,891,819.

How does PA use the funds?
The Office of Commonwealth Libraries distributes in two ways:

  • Statewide services such as partial funding for Access PA/POWER Library, Pennsylvania Library Association’s PA Forward initiative, and professional development opportunities for library staff.
  • Grants to local libraries which fund programs that directly serve local libraries, residents, and communities through Family Place, Play & Grow, and supporting professional development opportunities.
  • Deputy Secretary and State Librarian Susan Banks released a statement on March 19, 2025
    • “We received reassurance from the IMLS that because of the Continuing Resolution passed by Congress, our 10/2024-9/2025 award is still available to us and that they expect our 10/2025-9/2026 award to be ready for commitment later in April.”
    • “There is a caveat – in current circumstances, chances are slim but not zero that there may be an action or change from elsewhere in the federal government that would complicate matters. We are not going to let that dampen our spirits. While we may not have all the answers right now, please know that we are focused on planning for different outcomes.”
  • Pennsylvania Library Association reports this usage of federal funds (received via grants from OCL):
    • “The Pennsylvania Library Association DOES receive some of this grant money from OCL in 3 programs (below); While we certainly want to maintain grant support for these programs, we may need to adjust elements in the future, but will certainly continue these important programs.”
      • College & Research Division (CRD) professional development support funds, $16k;
      • PA Forward® literacy program support, $107k; and
      • $97k for PA Library Association Academy of Leadership Studies (PALS) programs such as Directors’ Institute and Leadership Academy.

What else is at stake besides the funding?

  • If these programs, grants, and the federally paid employees who facilitate them are cut, the message is that libraries aren’t important enough to support. We cannot afford to have that message broadcasted.
  • Programs to states and individual libraries help to improve library services through research and implementation of both tried-and-true and innovative methods.
  • Many of the questions on the annual report funnel up to IMLS for data collection within the Public Library Survey data set. This data is available to all citizens online, so libraries and their communities can easily set benchmark objectives. Library-supporting organizations at all levels (local, state, and national) also tap into that data to advocate for libraries. That data is more important than ever.

Is IMLS being eliminated, like the Department of Education?

According to the ALA, “The clear intent of the Executive Order, as stated in the language of the order, is to eliminate IMLS.

The Executive Order does not directly eliminate the agency entirely. That would clearly exceed executive authority, because IMLS is established by law. Instead, the Executive Order aims to move as far toward eliminating the agency as possible. It requires that the agency only do what is “statutorily required,” which means the actions required by current laws. At this time, it is not fully clear which agency functions the Administration will deem to be “statutorily required.”

On March 20, President Donald J. Trump appointed Keith E. Sonderling as Acting Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). In his acceptance press release, he stated: “I am committed to steering this organization in lockstep with this Administration to enhance efficiency and foster innovation. We will revitalize IMLS and restore focus on patriotism, ensuring we preserve our country’s core values, promote American exceptionalism and cultivate love of country in future generations.”

UPDATE: As of March 31, 2025: The Institute of Museum and Library Services has placed its entire staff on administrative leave. According to a statement from AFGE Local 3403, which represents IMLS workers, the agency’s staff was notified by email about being placed on paid administrative leave for up to 90 days, after a “brief meeting between DOGE staff and IMLS leadership.” Employees had to turn in government property, and email accounts were disabled. Work on processing 2025 grants and 2026 applications has ceased entirely, and the status of previously awarded grants is now unclear. (NPR Article, EveryLibrary Statement)

Could this impact my library’s State Aid Allocation?

The short and immediate answer is no, IMLS/LSTA funding does not supply funding to the Public Library Subsidy line, the line item which specifically allocates State aid for local libraries, federated systems, County Coordination aid, District aid, and Statewide Library Resource Center aid.

BUT–A reduction or complete loss of federal funding to the Office of Commonwealth Libraries would likely have a trickle down effect on services, putting more responsibility on public libraries’ budgets to maintain quality library services. Even if your library didn’t utilize grant funding or services directly, cutting this funding is an explicit message that libraries and museums are not a priority or important, which could have an even greater impact down the line.

What can we do?

  • Reach out to your federal-level representatives and senators in Congress.
  • Reach out to state-level representatives and senators to encourage them to reach out to their federal colleagues.
  • Reach out to Governor Shapiro to voice concern.
  • Not sure how to contact these folks? Visit our legislative session page and scroll down to the section titled “SNOE Legislators.”
  • Encourage library supporters to tell their stories of how they have benefitted from the library and how they perceive the library to serving their community.
    • It’s good to do this locally, and ALA also has a “Show Up for Our Libraries” initative where these stories can be shared nationally. The submission form is here.
  • Sign EveryLibrary’s Petition to “Stop Trump’s E.O. Attacks on Federal Funding for Libraries”
  • Share with those listed above as well as your community leaders and community at-large about how your library has a positive impact on residents of all ages and HOW the programs/services which your library offers benefit the whole. Use both stories and accurate data to paint the picture.

Resources:

Other Potentially Relevant Court Cases:

  • States requesting rollback in Federal “Reduction in Force” worker layoffs
    • Two separate District Court judges have ordered that federal workers laid off in the RIF initiatives be restored to work in separate cases.
    • Both judges listed as cause that the reductions in force were not truly performance driven and were a strategy to “sidestep legal requirements for reducing the federal workforce”. Some of those relevant requirements: employees receiving at least 60 days’ written notice, as well as advance notices to state and local governments.
    • Neither of these lawsuits directly name IMLS, as they predate this EO, but it may change how the Executive branch handles any potential reductions in force of staff.
  • Federal Funding Freeze lawsuits (NCN v. OMB and States vs. OMB)
    • A critical point of these lawsuits is the authority of the Executive Office to enact major fiscal changes to the budget the Legislative branch has authorized.
    • The EO in this case specifically targets “non-statuatory” components, likely a response to early ruling in the Freeze cases, and points to an evolution of the attacks by the Executive branch on percieved bureaucratic wastes.

Published in Federal 2025 Session and Legislation to Watch

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