The federal agency that supports the nation’s libraries has restored thousands of grants canceled by the Trump administration, following a federal judge’s ruling that the executive order mandating the cuts was unlawful.

The executive order, issued in March, said the Institute of Museum and Library Services, along with six other small agencies, must “be reduced to the maximum extent consistent with the applicable law.” Soon after, the agency put most of its staff of 70 on administrative leave, fired its board members and began informing grant recipients that their federal funding had been eliminated.

In April, the attorneys general of 21 states filed a lawsuit arguing that the cuts, which included roughly $160 million in funding for state library agencies, violated federal law.

John J. McConnell Jr., the chief judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island, ruled in their favor on Nov. 21, calling the administration’s moves “arbitrary and capricious.” Canceling funding appropriated by Congress, he said, violated the doctrine of separation of powers.

This week, the agency announced the restoration of “all federal grants” in a terse post on its website. The post made no reference to the court ruling.

While the library agency is less known to the public than other federal cultural agencies targeted by the Trump administration, such as the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities, the cuts had stirred widespread concern. In a statement this week, the American Library Association hailed the restoration of grants as a victory for all Americans.

“Libraries across the country will be able to resume vital services for learning, imagination and economic opportunity,” Sam Helmick, the group’s president, said.

A separate lawsuit brought by the library association and a union representing 42,000 cultural workers nationwide remains ongoing. And future funding for the agency, along with the broader federal budget, has not been set.

The Institute of Museum and Library Services was created in 1996 and reauthorized most recently in 2018 in legislation signed by President Trump during his first term. Last year, it issued nearly $270 million in grants for libraries, museums and archives in every state and territory, with the bulk supporting essential but unglamorous functions like database systems and collections management.

Its largest program delivers roughly $160 million annually to state library agencies, which covers one-third to one-half of their budgets, according to the Chief Officers of State Library Agencies, an independent group representing library officials.

The library agency’s acting director is Keith E. Sonderling, the deputy secretary of labor, who replaced Cyndee Landrum, a career library professional. He was sworn in a few days after Mr. Trump’s executive order, shortly before visiting its offices with a team that included at least one employee from the Department of Government Efficiency.

After the visit, Mr. Sonderling issued a statement promising to “restore focus on patriotism, ensuring we preserve our country’s core values, promote American exceptionalism and cultivate love of country in future generations.” Since then, the agency has moved to support next year’s 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, which Mr. Trump has embraced as a priority.

In September, it announced new grants to support six “Freedom Trucks” that will travel the country next year. Inspired by the “Freedom Train” created during the Bicentennial, they will be equipped with interactive civics exhibits that “aim to make our nation’s history more accessible and reinforce patriotism among Americans of all ages.”

The size of the grants, awarded to America 250, a nonprofit bipartisan group charged with overseeing the federal commemoration, was not disclosed.

The library agency and America 250, which has experienced recent turmoil in its leadership, did not respond to requests for comment.



Library Agency Reinstates Grants Canceled by Trump Administration