Attorney General Aaron M. Frey has partnered with a coalition of 20 other state attorneys general to file a lawsuit against the Trump administration. The lawsuit seeks to prevent the dismantling of three federal agencies that provide essential support and funding to public libraries, museums, minority-owned businesses, and workers nationwide. This action follows a March executive order from the Trump administration that proposes the dismantling of these agencies, which were established by Congress to deliver programs worth hundreds of millions of dollars across the United States.
The lawsuit primarily targets the proposed dismantling of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and two other unidentified agencies. The IMLS has already responded to the executive order by placing almost its entire staff on administrative leave, thereby threatening the continuation of hundreds of grants for state libraries and museums.
Attorney General Frey emphasizes that the dismantling of these agencies would have "devastating effects on communities throughout Maine and the nation" that depend on the agencies for critical services, including library funding and the promotion of minority-owned businesses.
The executive order also affects the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), which has reduced its staff from 40 to five individuals, impacting the issuance of new grants. Similarly, the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) has reduced its workforce from around 200 to fewer than 15, leading to the termination of several core programs that support unionized workers' rights.
The legal action asserts that the executive order infringes on both the Constitution and the Administrative Procedure Act by nullifying programs without considering the regulations governing federal funding. The coalition argues that the President cannot override laws governing federal spending, as this executive order unconstitutionally breaches Congress's power over federal funds.
The lawsuit is led by the attorneys general of New York, Rhode Island, and Hawaii, with participation from the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin.