Dear Colleagues,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019d like to share some remarkable news regarding the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). First, after more than five months with little to no communication from the IMLS, in July funding reimbursements from IMLS began again with regularity<\/strong>. This may be because the end of the federal fiscal year is September 30,, <\/sup>2025 and despite the efforts to defund IMLS as outlined in Executive Order 14238<\/a> this funding was previously approved by Congress for museums and libraries across the country. There are also several pending lawsuits regarding this action. Press Release:\u00a0https:\/\/appropriations.house.gov\/news\/press-releases\/committee-releases-fy26-labor-health-and-human-services-education-and-related<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Bill summary:\u00a0https:\/\/appropriations.house.gov\/sites\/evo-subsites\/republicans-appropriations.house.gov\/files\/evo-media-document\/fy26-labor-health-and-human-services-education-and-related-agencies-subcommittee-summary.pdf<\/a>
Right now, because we don\u2019t know if IMLS will be funded for FY2026, the MBLC is treating reimbursements from IMLS as one-time funding. We\u2019re mindful that we don\u2019t want to add back databases or any service that depending on the outcome of the FY2026 federal budget, may have to be cut again.
However, last evening the FY2026 budget took a huge step in the right direction for IMLS.<\/strong> The House Appropriations released its version of the FY 2026 budget bill that includes $291.8 million for IMLS. In its version the Senate included $295 million for IMLS funding. This is a $3 million reduction from the previous year but it\u2019s a major turnaround from the President\u2019s budget which included $6 million to shutter the agency.
We still have a ways to go. The marked-up version of the bill goes to the full House next Tuesday and then we await the reconciliation of the House and Senate budgets. But this is promising news and we\u2019ll keep you updated as we learn more.
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Thank you to everyone who to the time over the past few months to contact Congress. It has made a difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bill summary (Democrat version):\u00a0https:\/\/democrats-appropriations.house.gov\/sites\/evo-subsites\/democrats-appropriations.house.gov\/files\/evo-media-document\/labor-health-and-human-services-education-and-related-agencies-summary.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n