The Trump administration, cooperating with the so -called Elon Musk Government Department, spotted a petite federal agency that provides funds for libraries and museums throughout the country. In communities in the United States, cuts threaten student trips, classes for seniors and access to popular digital services, such as Ebook App Libby.
On Monday, managers at the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) informed 77 employees – certainly all agency staff – that they were immediately paid on a paid administrative leave, according to one of the employees who sought anonymity in fear of being taken away from the deletion of Trump officials. Several other sources confirmed the movement, which occurred after President Donald Trump appointed Keith Sonderling, deputy secretary of work, as director of IML less than two weeks ago.
A representative of the American Federation of Government Employee Local 3403, a union representing about 40 IMLS employees, said Sonderling and a group of Doge employees met with IMLS leadership at the end of last month. Then Sonderling sent an e -mail to the staff “emphasizing the importance of libraries and museums in cultivating the perception of American uniqueness and patriotism of the next generation,” said the Union representative in a statement for Wired.
IMLS employees who appeared to work at the agency on Monday were asked to reverse computers and lost access to government E -Mail addresses before they were ordered to return home for the day, says the employee. It is not clear when or when employees will ever return to work. “It’s painful at many levels,” adds the employee.
The White House of the First Institute of Museum and Library Services did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Wired.
The IMLS annual budget is less than USD 1 per person in the USA. In general, the agency awarded over $ 269.5 million for library and museum systems last year, according to His subsidy database. The current IMLS employee says that a significant part of this money is paid as a reimbursement, but now there is no one who could limit the checks to the funds that have already been assigned.
“The status of previously granted subsidies is unclear. Without staff to administer programs, it is likely that most of the subsidies will be resolved,” said the American Federation of the Local 3403 Union government employee.
About 65 percent of financing were allocated to various states, and each of them received a minimum of around $ 1.2 million. Recipients can apply money for initiatives throughout the state or transfer it to a local museum and library institutions to expenses, such as staff training and back-office software. According to IMLS data in California and Texas, they received the highest funding of approximately $ 12.5 million and $ 15.7 million, respectively. Individual libraries and museums also receive subsidies directly from IML for specific projects.
The Idaho Art Museum expected $ 10,350 for support Student field tripsAccording to the Grant IMLS database. The North Carolina Museum was assigned $ 23,500 for Weaving and fiber optic workshops for seniors. And the native community in California expected it to be put in $ 10,000 In order to buy books and electronic resources.