[Nhcoll-l] Contact Your Lawmakers About Protecting IMLS

[Jyotsna Pandey]

*Contact Your Lawmakers About Protecting IMLS*

On March 14, President Trump issued an Executive Order intended to
dismantle the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), an agency
that plays a crucial role in supporting museums and libraries nationwide.
Then on March 31, the entire IMLS staff was placed on administrative leave,
raising concerns about the agency's ability to fulfill its legal
obligations to distribute congressionally appropriated funds. This
uncertainty puts museums, libraries, and communities nationwide at risk of
losing essential resources.

In the natural sciences, IMLS supports not only natural history museums but
also living collections, such as botanic gardens. *It is critical for
members of the natural science collections community to communicate with
their lawmakers about the far-reaching impacts of these actions and the
importance of sustained IMLS funding for natural science collections.*

Last week the NSC Alliance led 74 organizations in sending a joint letter
<https://nscalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/NSC-Alliance-Joint-Letter-on-IMLS.pdf>
to Congress. We have now established an advocacy campaign through the
American Institute of Biological Sciences Legislative Action Center to
enable *individuals* to weigh in.

*Please take a few moments to call and write to your members of Congress
<https://takeaction.io/aibs/write-to-your-lawmakers-about-protecting-imls/>
*using the provided template letter and phone script urging them to take
immediate action to protect IMLS from harmful funding and staffing cuts.

Please share this widely and urge your colleagues to take action!
___________________
Jyotsna Pandey, Ph.D.
Director of Community Programs, American Institute of Biological Sciences
Executive Director, Natural Science Collections Alliance

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