21 state AGs challenges Trump’s order to cuts funding for libraries and museums – JURIST
A coalition of 21 democratic attorneys general filed a lawsuit on Friday in an attempt to stop a presidential executive order that cuts funding for several federal agencies, including the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
The lawsuit states that for these agencies, compliance has “meant gutting every one of their operations—statutorily mandated or not.” The lawsuit argues that President Trump’s executive order is unlawful because it contradicts a precedent set by the Supreme Court requiring the use of reasoned analysis when eliminating discretionary programs. The suit also argues that the order is unlawful because it prevents the agencies from carrying out statutory duties as defined by Congressional directives, violating the Constitution’s separation of powers. The lawsuit requests the executive order be declared unlawful, and the agency reductions be postponed and ultimately stopped.
Friday’s lawsuit highlights the negative impact this executive order has had on the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). To comply with the order, the IMLS has placed 85 percent of its staff on administrative leave, significantly reduced the administration and review of grant applications, and terminated state grants that are statutorily mandated. The lawsuit also makes particular note of The Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) and the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS), both of which have dramatically reduced staff and terminated core programs.
Executive Order 14238 was signed on March 20 with the express purpose of reducing “elements of the Federal bureaucracy that the President has determined are unnecessary.” The order significantly reduces the operational scope, assigned personnel, and funding for seven federal agencies. The order effectively reduces each agency to the absolute minimum status required by existing statutes.
This follows a series of legal challenges raised by democratic attorneys general. On April 1, attorneys general from 23 states and the District of Columbia filed a lawsuit against the US Department of Health and Human Services and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over cuts to public health funding. In January, 22 AGs filed a lawsuit challenging a presidential executive order that significantly restricts the limits of birthright citizenship.
