Art Lachman

They should hire Nathan Fielder

And not a single exclamation point for libraries.

And as an ethics lawyer, I find it particularly troubling that some unqualified lawyers are filling these multiple “acting” roles.

Thanks! Sounds like the issue hasn’t been litigated, but the fact that the IG statute expressly overrides the Vacancies Act regarding qualifications supports your conclusion. What a mess!!

Under 20 USC 9103(a)(1) and (3), the IMLS Director is appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate, and must have “special competence with respect to library and information services.”

Regarding Trump’s appointment of Keith Sonderling as Acting Director of IMLS (he’s an employment lawyer who was confirmed as Deputy Secretary of Labor), does the Vacancies Act override statutory qualifications for the position? Any authority on that issue?

And the primary reason the government wants jurisdiction limited to the Federal Court of Claims is that injunctive relief would apparently not be available there. Rights without meaningful remedies. [See footnote 2 of this order from Judge McConnell in a funding freeze case]

Massive Victory in Lawsuit Filed Against Trump Administration's Dismantling of IMLS The Trump administration has been ordered to stop dismantling the IMLS and has been ordered to restore the agency to its pre-Executive Order functions and staffing.

NEW!

The Trump administration has been ordered to stop dismantling the IMLS and has been ordered to restore the agency to its pre-Executive Order functions and staffing.

bookriot.com/massive-vict...

Why I’m Resigning from the NSF and Library of Congress I cannot participate in systems that require dishonesty as the price of belonging.

"For me, the answer now lies in refusal, the withdrawal of participation from systems that require dishonesty as the price of belonging."

Today I am resigning from the National Science Board and the Library of Congress Scholars Council.

I wrote about my decision in TIME.

time.com/7285045/resi...

JFC--this is a huge cut and among the most impacted will be the Washington Talking Book & Braille Library, an essential and vital service for disabled readers across the state.

The Office of the Secretary of State delivered 47 at-risk of layoff letters over the past two weeks to Washington State Library. Read the full news release here: bit.ly/43b2Vvd

"An independent journalist" who won't remain nameless Too many legacy outlets still refuse to credit indie journos. Enough is enough.

ok i wrote about it

Now please. It’s not as if jobs are on the line or anything…

Judge 'inclined' to block DOGE takeover of Institute of Museum and Library Services A lawsuit filed by the American Library Association says the Trump administration is trying to dismantle the independent agency.

NEW: Judge Richard Leon says he's "inclined" to grant a restraining order blocking DOGE's efforts to dismantle the Institute of Museum and Library Services. (IMLS).

The independent agency's entire 75-person staff was placed on leave last month.
www.wusa9.com/article/news...

Fun!

Trump cuts have WA libraries, museums and tribes scrambling President Donald Trump's administration has targeted the federal agency that supports libraries for downsizing. Washington cultural organizations are reeling.

Along with other cultural institutions in Washington, the Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe, who participated in our Collections Assessment for Preservation program in 2019, talk about how the termination of grants from IMLS & NEH have affected them:
www.seattletimes.com/entertainmen...

The Latest From IMLS and What You Need to Prepare For Right Now It’s only been a little more than a month since the current administration dropped an Executive Order related to funding and projects from the Institute for...

The latest from the Institute of Museum and Library Services and what you need to do right not to prepare for the coming months and years.

buttondown.com/wellsourced/...

Email sent from IMLS to state librarians reads: "Pursuant to 20 USC § 9134 and your obligations under the Grant Award Guidance and Statement of Assurances and Certifications, please provide IMLS with the following information: Whether and how federal taxpayer dollars provided to you under the Grants to States program have been used, or are still being used, to subsidize programs that conflict with government policy as found below: Executive Order 14151, Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing, and Executive Order 14253, Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History, and Executive Orders 13899 and 14188, Combating Anti-Semitism and Additional Measures To Combat Anti-Semitism, and Executive Order 14168, Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government, and Executive Order 14202, Eradicating Anti-Christian Bias, and Executive Order 14190, Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling, and How federal taxpayer dollars provided to you under the Grants to States program are being used to facilitate access to resources that cultivate an educated and informed American citizenry, and How you plan to involve your agencies in the upcoming celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States of America? Kindly provide this information by Monday, May 5, 2025 to stateprograms@imls.gov with the subject line “Response to IMLS Request for Information.” IMLS appreciates your dedication to serving the American public."

While you're distracted by a SCOTUS case about inclusive books in schools, the new leader at the IMLS is demanding that state librarians share what their grant money is being used for.

I told you this would happen, and here it is.

U.S. District Court, District of Rhode Island The U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island is located in Providence and serves the region, hearing criminal and civil cases involving federal law. This channel features videos for the p...

In case you're curious or sad or angry, there will be an initial hearing in Rhode Island v. Trump - this is the case of 21 states suit to stop the dismantling of the #IMLS. You can watch it, starting at 10am, on www.youtube.com/@USCourtsRID

Dear IMLS Grantee, This letter provides notice that the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is terminating your federal grant effective April 1, 2025, through the termination clause in your Award Agreement. This grant is unfortunately inconsistent with IMLS’ priorities. Independently and secondly, the President’s March 14, 2025 executive order mandates that the IMLS eliminate all non-statutorily required activities and functions. See Continuing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy, E.O. 14238 (Mar. 14, 2025). Therefore, the IMLS hereby terminates your grant in its entirety effective April 1, 2025. Please remember that your obligations under the Grant Agreement continue to apply. Additionally, an audit may be conducted by IMLS after the termination of the agreement. Please contact grant-notices@imls.gov with only urgent questions. We wish you well. Sincerely, Keith Sonderling Acting Director ksonderling@imls.gov 955 L’Enfant Plaza SW #4000, Washington, DC 20024

I've obtained a copy of the letter sent by IMLS Acting Director Keith Sonderling to state library grantees letting them know their funding was being pulled, effective immediately:

Look at these fucking assholes celebrating defunding libraries.

SCOOP: DOGE notified the Institute of Museum and Library Sciences (IMLS) today that the entire staff is being put on administrative leave effective immediately, I’ve learned from an agency source.

They’ll be cancelling huge swaths of grants/contracts and starting a Reduction in Force (RIF).

The statute also mandates that the IMLS Director have “special competence with respect to libraries and information services.” Sonderling is a lawyer serving as Trump’s Deputy Secretary of Labor, not legally qualified for this position.

I guess now

Is there a point at which the Chief Justice takes on a leadership role and proactively pushes back on all this nonsense? Or does he just continue to wait for cases to come before the Court? There certainly appears to be a controversy now in which the United States is a party. Art. III, Sec. 2

CNN Poll: Democratic Party’s favorability drops to a record low | CNN Politics The Democratic Party’s favorability rating among Americans stands at a record low, according to a new CNN poll conducted by SSRS, fueled in part by dimming views from its own frustrated supporters.

Purgatory’s good enough for 2nd place. amp.cnn.com/cnn/2025/03/...

Also, few of us put the blame on her for her loss (it was yet another failure of leadership). This moment would be an opportunity for her. Oh well.

Yes, especially given the obvious leadership vacuum. Leaders lead.

One would have hoped that the de facto party leader would be former presidential candidate, Vice President, and Senator Kamala Harris, but nary a peep from her.

And the Tesla scene was genius