Attorney General Keith Ellison has successfully obtained a court order preventing the Trump administration from dismantling three federal agencies. These agencies, which support public libraries, museums, workers, and minority-owned businesses across the nation, were targeted by an Executive Order issued by the administration.
In April, Ellison and a coalition of 20 other attorneys general filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration to halt the implementation of this Executive Order. The United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island has now granted a preliminary injunction in favor of the states' request. This decision temporarily stops any actions to dismantle the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), and the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS).
"Donald Trump is the head of one, co-equal branch of the federal government, not a king. Congress created the agencies Trump is trying to dismantle and Congress tasked them with carrying out certain programs to the benefit of the American people. Trump cannot use executive orders to override the authority of Congress," stated Attorney General Ellison following this legal victory. "Today’s preliminary injunction is yet another example of our court system rebuking this lawless president for exceeding his authority and trying to usurp the role of Congress."
The court's ruling emphasizes that dismantling these agencies would have severe consequences on communities in Minnesota and nationwide. These organizations play crucial roles in providing essential services such as funding libraries, promoting minority-owned businesses, and protecting workers' rights.
The injunction halts actions against IMLS, MBDA, and FMCS under Trump's Executive Order. The court determined that there was a strong likelihood that claims asserting violations of both the Administrative Procedure Act and constitutional provisions regarding congressional authority would succeed.
The coalition supporting this lawsuit includes attorneys general from Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont Washington State,and Wisconsin.