President Donald Trump's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative takes aim at diversity programs across state institutions.
According to Fox News, the Trump administration is cutting $15 million in diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) grants from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) as part of its broader effort to eliminate what it calls "divisive ideologies" from federal government funding.
The cuts target several blue states, with California's State Library losing $6.7 million intended for equitable library programs and Washington State Library facing a $4 million reduction in funding for staff development and incarcerated support programs.
The Connecticut State Library system will also see a $1.5 million DEI grant eliminated, which was meant to integrate social justice initiatives into daily operations.
Major cuts target state library systems
The IMLS, under Acting Director Keith Sonderling's leadership, is implementing these changes in alignment with Trump's executive orders aimed at removing DEI from federal government operations. This move follows the agency's recent staff reduction of 80%, which was implemented to streamline operations and reduce government spending.
The cuts extend beyond traditional library programs to affect various cultural initiatives. A Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit will lose $700,000 that was earmarked for studying post-pandemic DEI practices in American children's museums. Additionally, a $265,000 research project at Queens College in New York examining BIPOC teens' interest in Japanese comic books has been terminated.
State and local funding sources will need to fill the gap left by these federal cuts, as federal funds historically represent only 0.3% of public libraries' total operating revenue, according to the American Academy of Arts & Sciences study.
DOGE initiative drives substantial taxpayer savings
Acting IMLS Director Keith Sonderling stated:
In keeping with the vision of the President's executive orders, we are taking action to end taxpayer funding for discriminatory DEI initiatives in our nation's museums and libraries. Our cultural institutions should bring Americans together—not promote divisive ideologies. Moving forward, we must champion programs that uphold our founding ideals and reaffirm that the American Dream is within reach for all, through hard work and determination, not identity politics.
The DOGE initiative has achieved significant financial results since its implementation. According to its website, the program has saved American taxpayers approximately $140 billion, translating to nearly $900 in savings per taxpayer. These savings come from various sources, including the Department of Education, where at least $100 million in DEI contracts have been eliminated.
Impact on cultural institutions nationwide
The funding cuts are part of Trump's "Continuing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy" executive order issued last month, which targeted seven government agencies, including the IMLS. This broader initiative aims to reduce government spending and eliminate what the administration considers unnecessary programs.
Some smaller but symbolic programs have also been affected by the cuts. The "Gay Ohio History Initiative," which planned to install 10 LGBTQ+ historical markers throughout the state, will lose its $250,000 grant. This decision reflects the administration's broader stance against DEI-focused programming in cultural institutions.
Local communities and state governments are now faced with decisions about whether to maintain these programs through alternative funding sources. The significant reduction in federal support may lead to substantial changes in how libraries and museums approach diversity and inclusion initiatives.
Federal funding overhaul reshapes cultural landscape
The Trump administration's DOGE initiative has fundamentally altered the federal government's role in funding diversity programs at state libraries and museums. Through the elimination of $15 million in DEI grants, the program has specifically targeted cultural institutions in blue states, affecting everything from staff development to community outreach programs. As these changes take effect, state and local governments must decide whether to maintain these programs through alternative funding sources or allow them to be discontinued entirely.
