AG Kaul Obtains Preliminary Injunction Protecting Libraries, Museums

MADISON, Wis. – Attorney General Josh Kaul today announced that he and a coalition of 20 other attorneys general secured a preliminary injunction that halts the dismantling of three federal agencies that fund and support public libraries and museums, workers, and minority-owned businesses in Wisconsin and nationwide.

U.S. District Court Chief Judge John McConnell, Jr. found that a preliminary injunction is “appropriate and necessary.”

“This ruling is yet another decision concluding that the Trump administration is likely violating the law,” said AG Kaul. “Rather than continuing to create chaos through lawless actions, the administration should be acting consistently with the Constitution and working to uphold the rule of law.”

In March, the Trump administration issued an Executive Order that would dismantle federal agencies created by Congress that collectively provide hundreds of millions of dollars for programs in every state.

Kaul and the coalition are seeking to stop the dismantling of three agencies targeted in the administration’s Executive Order:

• The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), which supports museums and libraries nationwide through grantmaking, research, and policy development;
• The Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), which promotes the growth and inclusion of minority-owned businesses through federal financial assistance programs; and
• The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS), which promotes peaceful resolution of labor disputes.

The targeting of the agencies threated programs in Wisconsin. For example, the University of Wisconsin System Office of Business & Entrepreneurship reported that it would have to “cancel any upcoming training and accelerator services for participants already enrolled and expecting these services” due to termination of a an MBDA grant award.

Joining AG Kaul in the lawsuit are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington.

More information about the lawsuit is available here.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.