1. United States
2. Ariz.
3. Letter

I am writing to express strong concerns over the March 14 Executive Order targeting the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and the March 31 notice placing the entire IMLS staff on administrative leave. I urge you to speak up to the Administration and prevent them from moving forward with this damaging approach. I use the library on a daily basis for my infant daughter to socialize, play, learn to read and behave in public spaces. This agency provides essential funding and guidance for the vast collections of museums across America. They are also community anchors, supporting youth and senior citizens, serving people with disabilities, and helping veterans heal. Beyond education, museums are economic engines, providing jobs, driving tourism, and serving as community cornerstones. Museums cannot do this vital work without the support they receive from agencies like IMLS. IMLS makes up only 0.0046% of the overall federal budget to support a sector that generates more than $50 billion dollars in economic benefits to the American economy and supports more than 726,000 jobs. I urge you to speak up to the Administration stressing the importance of IMLS continuing to operate as a Congressionally authorized independent agency at its current scope, an agency that has been appropriated funds on a bipartisan basis for decades. Protecting this essential agency is critical to preserving the vital role museums play in education, the economy, and community infrastructure across the country. Support for museums is overwhelmingly popular, research shows that 96% of Americans would approve of lawmakers who act to support museums and 96% of Americans want to maintain or increase federal funding for museums. Thank you for your time and consideration.