On Friday, President Trump signed an executive order that will dismantle the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) within seven days. This unprecedented decision is more than just bureaucratic restructuring—it is a direct assault on the cultural institutions that preserve our history, educate our citizens, and foster community engagement. If Congress and the public do not act swiftly, one of the most essential federal agencies supporting museums and libraries across the nation will vanish, leaving institutions to struggle in an increasingly challenging landscape.

IMLS is far more than a grantmaking entity. It is the only federal agency dedicated to sustaining the entire museum and library ecosystem in the United States. For nearly three decades, it has strengthened cultural institutions through research, policy development, workforce training, and infrastructure support. Its funding has sustained small-town museums, advanced digital preservation initiatives, expanded accessibility for underserved communities, and fueled innovation in educational programming. Eliminating IMLS would dismantle the very framework that upholds thousands of institutions vital to public learning and historical preservation.

Museums are among the most trusted institutions in the country, standing as rare bipartisan beacons of credibility in an era of deep division. A 2021 American Alliance of Museums report found that 97% of Americans view museums as valuable educational assets, while 89% consider them trustworthy sources of information. Museums provide a grounding force for facts, history, and science—fields already under siege from misinformation and political polarization. Stripping them of federal support will not only jeopardize their sustainability but also undermine the very foundation of public knowledge and truth.

IMLS does more than fund institutions—it empowers them to serve their communities. It invests in training and professional development, ensuring that museum professionals can adapt to the evolving needs of the public. Without this support, many institutions will struggle to hire and retain qualified staff, leading to diminished exhibitions, research initiatives, and educational outreach. The impact will be particularly devastating for small and rural museums, which lack the fundraising capacities of larger urban institutions. These local museums often serve as the only sources of public cultural and historical education in their regions. Their disappearance would create cultural voids that cannot easily be filled.

The decision to dismantle IMLS is not just an administrative move—it is a political statement. It signals that cultural preservation, public access to knowledge, and historical integrity are expendable. This follows a troubling pattern of weakening public institutions that serve as guardians of truth, education, and collective memory. If allowed to proceed, this decision will set a dangerous precedent for further attacks on museums, libraries, and educational institutions nationwide.

Congress must intervene immediately to halt this reckless action. The public must recognize what is truly at stake: not just a single agency, but the very infrastructure that allows museums to educate, inspire, and preserve our shared heritage.

Now is the time for museum professionals, educators, students, and all who value knowledge to take action. Call your representatives. Demand the protection of IMLS. Without it, our museums—and the public trust they have built—face an uncertain and diminished future.