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Updates on Federal Agencies Impacted by DOGE and the EO Targeting the Smithsonian Institution

Date postedApril 8, 2025
VAM Community Blogs,

Thank you to the Southeastern Museum Conference for compiling and providing these important updates. 

Update - Institute of Museum and Library Services

Last week, the entire staff of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) was placed on administrative leave which raises questions as to whether the agency will be able to fulfill its legal obligations to disburse congressionally appropriated funding, leaving museums, libraries, and communities across the country at risk of losing vital resources.  

Administrative Leave

Earlier in March, Deputy Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling was sworn in as the acting director of IMLS. Sonderling was tasked with carrying out an executive order that called for cuts to several agencies, including IMLS. Following a brief meeting on March 31st with IMLS leadership, Sonderling and DOGE placed all staff of IMLS on administrative leave. According to a statement from the American Federation of Government Employees Local 3403, employees were required to turn in all government property, and their email accounts were disabled.

What this means: There will likely be disruptions to existing grants with no staff in place to administer funds, and review of current grant applications are like to be halted. It is unclear if anyone will be addressing email communications or phone calls to IMLS. An IMLS employee told Artnet that there are 891 open awards to museums with $180 million in federal funds that the Trump administration plans to cancel. IMLS has effectively been shut down. As we learn more, we'll share it.

What museum and library associations are doing:

It is our understanding that the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), the American Library Association (ALA), and other key partners are exploring potential legal actions. Once we know more, we will let you know. All of our associations continue to work together to keep museum and library professionals informed and are advocating on your behalf. 

What states are doing:

A coalition of 21 state attorneys general is suing the administration of US President Donald Trump for attempting to eliminate the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and several other agencies through executive orders and actions that, the group says in its legal filing, "are illegal several times over".

The lawsuit, filed Friday, April 4 by the top legal officers for states including California, Illinois, New York, Rhode Island, Wisconsin and more, comes after most of the agency's employees were placed on administrative leave on March 31. The 85% reduction in staff followed the executive order naming the agency as one of several federal bodies to be “eliminated to the maximum extent of applicable law".

Please continue to contact your representatives:

Advocacy efforts are still in progress. Our representatives need to hear from us every time something new happens. Over 50,000 calls and emails about IMLS have already been sent to Congress. Keep it up!

If you are a current grantee: Your message needs to be the direct impact of cuts. Let your members of Congress know immediately if your award is cancelled or delayed and what is being lost - or what could be lost if it is. Be as specific as possible about the impact on your operating budget, staff, and community.

If you are not a current grantee: Your voice matters too! Your message could be about what the dismantling of IMLS represents or signals to the American public--a lack of value for museums and libraries serving our communities--and that this does not align with the views of the majority of Americans. Your message could also be about past awards from IMLS or applications you have in right now for future projects.

  • Write AND call your local and state-level elected officials and ask for their help. They may have the ear of representatives in Congress.

All calls and emails matter....even if you are getting an auto response!

Update - National Endowment for the Humanities

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has targeted the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) to significantly cut staff, eliminate grant programs, and rescind awarded grants. Staff at the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) were told by email on Thursday, April 3, that they were being placed on paid administrative leave effective immediately.

The news comes two days after 56 state and jurisdiction humanities councils across the country received a letter that their NEH grants were being terminated.

These cuts threaten an agency that provides essential support to museums, libraries, historic sites, and educational institutions across the country.

For nearly 60 years, NEH has enriched education, fostered community dialogue, preserved cultural heritage, and strengthened local economies. NEH staff play a critical role in ensuring that organizations of all sizes can access federal funding for impactful humanities programs.

Slashing NEH funding and staff harms communities in every state and undermines efforts to preserve our shared history. SEMC has received generous funding for its Annual Meeting from state humanities councils in Kentucky and Louisiana. This year, we have been in communication with the Alabama Humanities Council for similar support for SEMC2025 in Montgomery - critical funding that would help keep conference fees lower for attendees and provide pathways for Alabama professionals from small, rural museums to attend the Annual Meeting.

It is anticipated that the National Endowment for the Arts will face similar changes. We strongly oppose these actions and urge Members of Congress to protect these agencies and their missions.

What can you do?

  • Contact your members of Congress immediately. They need to be aware of the direct impacts. They will not know unless you tell them. Call AND write. The American Alliance of Museums (AAM) has set up a template you can use. You will need to add to the template as much information as possible about the grant and the impacts of losing it.

  • If you have connections to Congressional staff, please contact them directly.

  • Please also let AAM know if your grant has been terminated.

  • If you are responding to the termination letters, please do so through the eGMS system, or official grants reporting system.

  • If you are a federally recognized tribe whose grant has been terminated, you should also contact the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
Contact local media. The media is showing interest in how funding cuts will impact local organizations and communities.The National Humanities Alliance is hosting office hours for this week to support this outreach. Sign up below:
Monday, April 7 - 12:00 p.m. ET
Tuesday, April 8 - 12:00 p.m. ET
Wednesday, April 9 - 10:00 a.m. ET
Thursday, April 10 - 2:00 p.m. ET
Friday, April 11 - 11:00 a.m. ET

If you do not have a grant that was terminated, please continue to engage your members of Congress and your state legislators!

UPDATE - Smithsonian Institution/National Park Service

On March 27, 2025, an executive order titled "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History" was issued. This directive aims to influence the presentation of historical narratives in federally funded institutions, including the Smithsonian Institution and National Park Service sites.​

Key Provisions of the Executive Order:

  • Revision of Exhibits: The order directs the removal of what it terms "improper, divisive, or anti-American ideology" from museum exhibits. This includes scrutinizing displays that address topics such as race, gender, and other social issues. For instance, exhibits like "The Shape of Power: Stories of Race and American Sculpture" at the Smithsonian American Art Museum are specifically mentioned as promoting divisive narratives.

  • Oversight Role: The Vice President, in his capacity as a member of the Smithsonian Board of Regents, is tasked with collaborating with various offices to ensure that Smithsonian exhibits and educational programs align with the administration's interpretation of American values.

  • Restoration of Historical Monuments: The order calls for the restoration of national monuments and statues that have been removed or renamed in recent years. The Secretary of the Interior is instructed to oversee this process, emphasizing the preservation of historical monuments that reflect the nation's heritage.

Research consistently demonstrates that the public values a full and honest exploration of our nation’s past. Efforts to censor historical narratives—particularly those that highlight the experiences of people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, women, and other historically marginalized communities—restrict the public’s ability to engage with a complex and truthful history.

The Smithsonian Institution’s leadership is standing firm after the Trump administration ordered a review of its exhibits, accusing the museum network of pushing a “race-centered ideology.”

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