The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), the National Endowment for Humanities (NEH), and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) are facing defunding under the Trump administration’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2019. The proposal will also eliminate a substantial amount dedicated to America’s libraries through the Library Services and Technology Act.
A similar proposal to eliminate the abovementioned agencies and services were proposed for FY2018, but the U.S. House of Representatives rejected it. The FY2019 budget plan increases spending for the military and building a Mexican border wall.
The American Library Association (ALA) described the administration’s budget as “out of touch with the real needs of Americans.” Jim Neal, ALA president, said: “The president miscalculates the value of more than 120,000 libraries across America, just as he did in his FY2018 budget proposal.” Neal expressed confidence that congressional leaders will continue to protect the federal programs that invest in communities.
Learn how you can show your support for public library funding. Visit the ALA’s Fund Libraries website.
Read a related story:
Private Sector Forms Group to Advocate for Public Libraries in the Face of Budget Cuts
Cindy Fazzi 
paulfrancisbutler
/ February 21, 2018Horrifying!
cindyfazzi
/ February 21, 2018I agree!