Attorney General Kwame Raoul, joined by 20 other attorneys general, has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration to block the proposed dismantling of key federal agencies. These agencies, including the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), and the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS), are under threat following an executive order from March. This order suggests dismantling agencies that provide critical services, funding public libraries and museums, and support minority-owned businesses and worker rights.
“The Institute of Museum and Library Services helps to ensure that art, culture, history and literacy are accessible for all,” Raoul asserted. He criticized the administration's move as an "unconstitutional and unlawful overreach," highlighting the potential jeopardy to library programs statewide.
In 2024, the IMLS directed $180 million to libraries through its Grants to States Program, with Illinois receiving about $5.7 million. Concerned about these potential cuts, Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias expressed worry over the impact on libraries in Illinois. “The Trump Administration’s reckless actions to defund and dismantle IMLS has serious consequences for Illinois by placing its annual state grants at risk," he stated, emphasizing the importance of these funds to underserved and rural communities.
The MBDA, which supports minority-owned businesses, has faced significant staffing reductions from 40 employees to just five, halting new grant distributions that support vulnerable businesses. The FMCS staff has also been severely reduced, affecting unionized workers' ability to secure rights.
Attorney General Raoul and his coalition argue that the executive order violates the Constitution and the Administrative Procedure Act by eliminating these agencies' programs. They maintain that the president cannot override Congressionally established laws governing federal spending.
The lawsuit, spearheaded by Raoul, has attracted the support of attorneys general from Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin.