Attorney General Mayes has joined a coalition of 20 state attorneys general in a lawsuit against the Trump administration's decision to dismantle three federal agencies that provide essential services and funding to public libraries and museums. The Executive Order issued in March proposes terminating agencies that collectively allocate substantial resources to programs across the United States.
Attorney General Mayes emphasized the importance of libraries for Arizona communities. “In communities across Arizona, libraries aren’t just a place to borrow books—they’re a lifeline,” Mayes stated. "Stripping that support away will widen the divide between the haves and the have-nots—and would especially devastate youth literacy programs."
The action targets the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), among others, compelling the agency to place staff on leave and potentially ending hundreds of grants to state institutions. The lawsuit aims to halt this measure, perceived as detrimental to millions of Americans relying on such support.
Secretary of State Adrian Fontes highlighted the cuts’ impact on Arizona library users. “This lawsuit is for Arizona’s 3 million library card holders, who in 2023 alone visited the library 14 million times,” said Fontes.
IMLS funding underpins critical initiatives in Arizona, affecting various local and statewide programs. The Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records (LAPR) is exploring the full extent of the funding cuts. However, consequences are evident, with job terminations among the staff delivering community-supporting Digital Navigator services.
The specific programs supported by IMLS include access to digital resources, literacy development, broadband initiatives, professional development, and legal resource access. In 2024, IMLS contributed $180 million to library support nationwide, a figure under threat from the current federal administration's directives.
Attorney General Mayes described the funding cutbacks as "an assault on the preservation of Arizona’s history." She further argued that the executive order disregards constitutional and procedural stipulations that govern federal funding.
The coalition's lawsuit, led by the attorneys general of New York and Rhode Island, contends the Executive Order undermines legal and regulatory frameworks and unconstitutional overrides Congress's budgetary role. The suit also includes attorneys general from California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, New Jersey, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin.