HARTFORD, CT — Connecticut Attorney General William Tong secured a preliminary injunction this week that halts the Trump administration from dismantling three federal agencies that fund public libraries, mediate labor disputes, and support minority-owned businesses.
According to Tong’s office, the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island granted the injunction Tuesday in response to a lawsuit filed by a coalition of 21 states.
The suit challenges an Executive Order that would dissolve the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), and the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS).
“We sued to stop Trump from defunding our schools and cancer cures, our disaster relief, and our police. We sued and now have yet another court order stopping him from defunding summer reading programs and audiobooks for disabled veterans,” Tong said.
“To those who say we’re overreacting because we’ve yet to see widespread destruction of Connecticut programs and jobs—this is the firewall. There is one reason that Trump has yet to completely dismantle our state, and that is because we are suing, we are succeeding, and we’re not going to stop,” he added.
The court order blocks implementation of the Executive Order as it applies to the three targeted agencies.
According to the ruling, the plaintiffs showed a strong likelihood of success on claims that the order violated the Administrative Procedure Act and the Constitution by attempting to eliminate congressionally established and funded agencies without legislative approval.
According to state data, the Connecticut State Library receives $2.2 million annually from IMLS, funding 13 state positions and a range of statewide programs. These include early literacy initiatives, veteran and military family support, and public access to digital collections.
Federal funds supported 8,827 summer reading programs in Connecticut last year, serving 229,470 children and teens, and provide free access to over 50,000 eBooks.
The Connecticut Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped serves 5,500 patrons, including 316 veterans, through federal support.
MBDA funds provide federal assistance to expand minority-owned businesses, while FMCS helps mediate labor disputes and promote peaceful conflict resolution.
According to Tong and the multistate coalition, eliminating these agencies would have “devastating effects” on communities that depend on them.
Joining Connecticut in the legal challenge were attorneys general from Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin.
The preliminary injunction remains in effect as litigation continues.
