Attorney General Mayes secured a court order to prevent the Trump administration from dismantling three federal agencies that support public libraries, museums, workers, and small businesses. This legal action comes after Mayes joined 20 other attorneys general in April to sue the Trump administration over an Executive Order aimed at dismantling the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), and the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS).
The United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island issued a preliminary injunction halting the implementation of this Executive Order. "This is yet another example of the Trump administration trying to tear down vital federal institutions," said Attorney General Mayes. She emphasized that rural libraries across Arizona and nationwide rely on funding from these agencies for essential services like broadband access, children's reading programs, and job search assistance.
The Executive Order is seen as part of a broader attempt by the Trump administration to dismantle federal agencies contrary to congressional intent. The injunction protects IMLS, MBDA, and FMCS from being disbanded under this order. These agencies are critical for supporting museums and libraries through grants and policy development, promoting minority-owned businesses with financial assistance programs, and resolving labor disputes peacefully.
The lawsuit claims that dismantling these agencies would have severe consequences for communities reliant on their services. The court agreed with this assertion, stating that there was a strong likelihood of success in proving that the Executive Order violates both the Administrative Procedure Act and constitutional provisions by attempting to dismantle congressionally established agencies.
In addition to Attorney General Mayes, attorneys general from California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin joined in filing this lawsuit.