Libraries are cutting back on staff and services after Trump's order to dismantle small agency

[BumRushDaShow]

9. There are 2 cases that I could find being tracked

from here - https://www.justsecurity.org/107087/tracker-litigation-legal-challenges-trump-administration/

State of Rhode Island v. Trump (D.R.I.)

Case No. 1:25-cv-00128 Complaint 2025-04-04

Overview: The attorneys general of 21 states sued to challenge an Executive Order (EO) drastically cutting multiple small agencies. They argue that the EO violates Constitutional limits on presidential authority and the Administrative Procedure Act. The district court has temporarily blocked the government’s action.

Case Summary: On Mar. 14, 2025, President Trump issued Executive Order 14238, “Continuing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy,” which drastically reduces funding and staffing at the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), and Federal Mediation and Conciliation Services (FMCS). The attorneys general of 21 states sued, alleging that the actions violate the Administrative Procedure Act as arbitrary and capricious, contrary to constitutional rights and contrary to law as it violates the notice-and-comments requirements, the Constitution’s Take Care Clause, Appropriations Clause, and separation of powers protections as well as the Impoundment Control Act by seeking to eliminate agencies without Congressional action. They seek to have the administration’s actions declared unlawful and unconstitutional and the issuance of preliminary and permanent injunctions reversing the steps taken to eliminate the agencies and preventing further such actions.

Update 1: On Apr. 4, Plaintiffs filed a motion for a temporary restraining order to prevent Defendants from implementing Executive Order 14,238 as it relates to the IMLS, MBDA, and FMCS, pending review of the case on the merits.

Update 2: On Apr. 9, Plaintiffs and Defendants jointly filed a stipulation converting Plaintiffs’ motion for a TRO to a motion for a preliminary injunction and setting a timeline for further responses to the motion.

Update 3: On Apr. 14, Defendants filed a memorandum opposing Plaintiffs’ motion for an emergency TRO, asserting that Plaintiffs failed to show a likelihood of success on any of their claims.

Update 4: On Apr. 16, Plaintiffs filed a reply supporting their motion for a preliminary injunction, reasserting that Defendants’ actions in closing the agencies violated the APA and Constitutional separation-of-powers provisions.

Update 5: On May 6, Judge John McConnell granted a preliminary injunction. 2025-05-06

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American Library Association v. Sonderling et al

Case No. 1:25-cv-01050 Complaint 2025-04-07

Overview: The American Library Association and the union for public employees sued the administration to challenge an Executive Order (EO) dismantling the Institute of Museum and Library Services. They argue that the EO violates Constitutional limits on presidential authority and the Administrative Procedure Act. The court has temporarily blocked the government’s action.

Case Summary: On Mar. 14, 2025, President Trump issued Executive Order 14238, “Continuing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy,” which calls for the elimination of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and instructs the agency to “reduce the performance of their statutory functions and associated personnel to the minimum presence and function required by law” while instructing the Office of Management and Budget to reject funding requests from the agency. Following the promulgation of the EO, employees from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) terminated nearly all of IMLS’s staff and began canceling grants, while Acting IMLS Director Keith Sonderling fired all 23 members of the National Museum and Library Services Board. Plaintiffs, including a nonprofit membership organization promoting library access and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, allege that the actions violate the Constitution’s Take Care Clause and separation of powers protections by seeking to eliminate agencies without Congressional action, the First Amendment, and the Administrative Procedure Act as arbitrary and capricious and in violation of the Impoundment Control Act, the Appropriations Act, and MLSA §203 (a) which established IMLS as an independent agency.. They seek to have the administration’s actions declared unlawful and unconstitutional and the issuance of preliminary and permanent injunctions reversing the steps taken to eliminate the IMLS and preventing further such actions.

Update 1: On Apr. 10, Plaintiffs filed a motion for a preliminary injunction directing Defendants to cease actions taken to dissolve the IMLS while the court considers the case. Plaintiffs also filed a memorandum in support of their motion reasserting their arguments that the administration’s actions toward IMLS violate the Constitution and the Administrative Procedure Act.

Update 2: On Apr. 21, Defendants filed an opposition brief to Plaintiff’s motion for a preliminary injunction arguing that Plaintiffs lack standing, that their claims should be heard in a different court or administrative body, and that Plaintiffs are unlikely to succeed on their statutory and constitutional claims.

Update 3: On Apr. 28, Plaintiffs filed a reply in support of a preliminary injunction. Plaintiffs argued that they have standing, have filed their claims in the right court, and that they have shown a likelihood of success on the merits for their statutory and constitutional claims.

Update 4: On May 1, Judge Richard Leon granted a temporary restraining order.
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