Observer - In a few short months, the Trump administration has dealt a series of blows to the American cultural and museum system, making clear from the outset that dismantling such infrastructure would be a priority on its governmental agenda. There was the reinstatement of the 2020 “Promoting Beautiful Federal Civic Architecture” memorandum. The cuts to the General Services Administration’s fine arts and preservation units. And most recently, the issuing of a new executive order calling for the elimination of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)—the only federal agency specifically tasked with supporting museums—”to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law.” The move is part of a broader, highly publicized effort to reduce the size of the federal government and, in the process, balance the budget.
Established in 1996 under the Museum and Library Services Act, the agency’s mandate has been to enhance learning, innovation and cultural preservation through grants, research and the promotion of best practices across museums and libraries. If the executive order is not revoked, the agency is slated to shut down by next Friday. The American Alliance of Museums (AAM) has since raised the alarm, noting that the decision starkly contradicts public opinion, as over 96 percent of Americans support maintaining or expanding museums. According to the organization, the IMLS already operated at a bare minimum, accounting for just 0.0046 percent of the overall federal budget. Meanwhile, museums contribute $50 billion to the U.S. economy annually.
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