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In a significant escalation of political and legal resistance, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul and a coalition of 20 state attorneys general have filed a lawsuit against former President Donald Trump’s decision to dismantle the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), a move that threatens millions in federal funding for cultural institutions across the country. Illinois stands to lose $11.3 million in annual support for its libraries, museums, and historical archives if the dismantling effort is upheld.

The IMLS, a small but vital federal agency, has long been a backbone of public cultural access, supporting everything from rural libraries to major metropolitan museums. Its grants often sustain technology programs, literacy initiatives, historical preservation, and community outreach in underfunded regions. In 2024 alone, the agency funneled millions into Illinois institutions—funding after-school education, expanding digital archives, and preserving culturally significant collections. Trump’s recent move to eliminate this agency has sparked a firestorm of opposition across the political spectrum in Illinois, a state known for its deep investment in public education and community-based programming.

Attorney General Raoul, speaking at a press conference in Springfield, called the defunding a “calculated attack on knowledge, access, and history.” He emphasized that the decision disproportionately affects working-class families, students, and elderly residents who depend on public libraries for internet access, job search tools, and free educational programming. Museums across Illinois—from Chicago’s neighborhood cultural centers to downstate historical societies—are also bracing for financial uncertainty as the federal dollars that supported exhibitions, maintenance, and community engagement programs may soon vanish.

Joining Raoul in the legal challenge are attorneys general from states including California, New York, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. The multistate lawsuit argues that Trump’s action exceeds executive authority and undermines congressional appropriations designated for the IMLS. Legal experts have pointed out that the agency was created by Congress and funded through bipartisan support over decades, making its unilateral dissolution a potential violation of federal law.

Illinois advocacy groups have also mobilized swiftly. Organizations representing libraries, educators, and museum professionals have launched campaigns to raise awareness of the cuts and the lawsuit. Public petitions are circulating statewide, and social media campaigns under hashtags like #SaveOurLibraries and #FundCulture are gaining traction among students, teachers, and librarians. Many worry that without immediate legal intervention or congressional action, the closures and program terminations may begin within months.

In Chicago, library directors are preparing contingency plans, warning that branches may need to reduce hours or staff if federal support dries up. Smaller towns may face even harsher realities, with some rural libraries entirely dependent on IMLS grants to keep their doors open. Museums, too, are facing difficult decisions—cutting outreach staff, canceling exhibitions, or delaying preservation projects that document Illinois’ rich cultural and immigrant histories.

Trump’s broader agenda to scale back federal involvement in education and public services has reignited debates over the role of the federal government in cultural access and equity. His defenders argue that the move is part of a long-overdue effort to streamline government and reduce unnecessary spending. Critics, however, view it as an attack on communities that rely on shared, public spaces to learn, connect, and grow.

The lawsuit is now set to proceed in federal court, with a request for an injunction to halt any immediate dismantling of IMLS operations. Meanwhile, Illinois officials continue to lobby Congress to intervene with emergency legislation that would protect funding in the short term.

For now, the future of countless local programs—from early childhood literacy sessions and historical preservation to science outreach and art education—hangs in the balance. Illinois leaders say they are prepared to fight the issue through every available legal and legislative channel. What’s at stake, they argue, is not just money, but the very infrastructure that supports learning and access to culture for all.