In FY 2027 Budget Proposal, Trump Once Again Calls for the Elimination of Federal Library Funding

For a sixth time, the Trump administration has proposed a federal budget that would permanently eliminate the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), and with it virtually all federal funding for libraries.

In a roughly $1.5 trillion proposal, released on April 3, the White House proposed steep cuts to social programs, a 10% cut for domestic non-defense spending, and a whopping 44% increase in military spending.

“We are not surprised that the White House FY27 budget zeroes out funding for IMLS and for IAL (Innovative Approaches to Literacy),” said American Library Association president Sam Helmick, in a statement. “The president’s intentions for IMLS were clear last year with the executive order to dismantle IMLS and cut off its funding. His FY27 budget follows a pattern started in his first term, when he proposed eliminating IMLS in four consecutive budget cycles.”

The budget proposal is largely a blueprint for the administration’s objectives, and Congress has, so far, thanks to the work of library advocates, refused to approve the president’s efforts. 

After a brief government shutdown, President Trump in February signed a FY 2026 budget bill that included nearly level funding for the IMLS after the administration proposed the permanent elimination of the agency in its FY 2026 budget proposal last spring. Furthermore, each of Trump’s four efforts to slash library funding in his first term were also rebuffed by Congress.

But, while library advocates have “a solid track record of defeating the president’s threats,” Helmick noted, “we do not underestimate the lengths to which he will go to undercut support for America’s libraries. ALA is working to make sure decisionmakers continue to hear from library advocates.”  

In addition to cutting funding for IMLS and IAL, the White House budget proposal severely cuts or eliminates funding for library-eligible federal programs, including the National Endowment for the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Humanities. It also slashes funds from programs supporting education, the environment, science and health, and several vital programs that help the nation’s poor.

The Trump budget proposal comes as library advocates are asked to urge their Senators to sign on to two “Dear Appropriator” letters to support robust library funding, with an April 17 deadline looming for the campaign. ALA is looking to boost Library Services and Technology Act grant funding (which is administered by the IMLS through grants to states) to $232 million in FY 2027, up from $212.5 million in FY 2026, and IAL funding to $50 million from $30 million budget. IAL funding is managed by the Department of Education.

ALA has created a resource page, Show Up For Our Libraries, for advocates to voice their support for libraries to legislators.