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Trump’s Cultural Vandalism: Bulls**t ‘War on Woke’ Will Trash The Country's Museums and Libraries [1]

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Date: 2025-03-21

Trump’s Executive Order Defunding Museums and Libraries Across the Country is Another Authoritarian Attempt to Control Culture

“They were careless people … They smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made.” —F Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby

Historically, authoritarian regimes have used cultural appropriation to consolidate power and control cultural narratives. Suppressing artistic expression, attacking the media and academia, banning books, destroying historical documents, saturating the culture with groupthink, are all part of an authoritarian’s supercharged playbook. Donald Trump, in his rush to eradicate and/or rewrite history and reshape America’s cultural institutions has, among other acts, named himself Chairman of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and dismissed existing board members, appointing a new Trump-aligned board (www.dailykos.com/...); rewritten guidelines for National Endowment for the Arts grants, emphasizing the need for so-called patriotic art; appointed a new head of the National Archives (www.dailykos.com/…); and most recently signed an executive order to eliminate the agency that funds museums and libraries (federalnewsnetwork.com/....).

The executive order, issued Friday night March 14, is intended to eliminate seven federal agencies, including the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).

Established in 1996, the Institute’s funding comes from annual appropriations by Congress. For fiscal year 2024, appropriations totaled $294.8 million. The Institute of Museum and Library Services supports museums, libraries, archives and similar entities throughout the U.S. through grants, research and policy development.

Headlines from newspapers across the country tell a dire story: “Albany museum funding at risk amid federal cuts”; Pittsburgh museums and libraries face possible federal funding turmoil”; “Multiple Greater Cincinnati museums impacted by federal cuts”; “Trump order threatens federal funding for Colorado’s libraries, museums”; “Trump’s cuts could mean Kentucky libraries, universities and museums lose millions”; “Alaska Museums brace for financial impact of President Trump’s latest executive order.”

In a statement posted on Instagram, the American Alliance of Museums wrote: "Eliminating the only federal agency dedicated to supporting museums directly undermines the will of the people and the critical roles museums play in American society."

“Eliminating the IMLS is a devastating blow to cultural institutions, especially those in underserved communities that rely on federal support. This decision undermines access to the arts, disproportionately harming marginalized groups and stifling diverse expression,” Julie Trébault, the executive director of Artists at Risk Connection, said in a statement. “It also reflects a troubling pattern of diminishing support for the arts and humanities, devaluing cultural institutions and jeopardizing the livelihoods of those who sustain them. This is a direct attack on artistic freedom and a disservice to future generations.”

The American Library Association issued the following statement: Americans have loved and relied on public, school and academic libraries for generations. By eliminating the only federal agency dedicated to funding library services, the Trump administration’s executive order is cutting off at the knees the most beloved and trusted of American institutions and the staff and services they offer: Early literacy development and grade-level reading programs Summer reading programs for kids High-speed internet access Employment assistance for job seekers Braille and talking books for people with visual impairments Homework and research resources for students and faculty Veterans’ telehealth spaces equipped with technology and staff support STEM programs, simulation equipment and training for workforce development Small business support for budding entrepreneurs To dismiss some 75 committed workers and mission of an agency that advances opportunity and learning is to dismiss the aspirations and everyday needs of millions of Americans. And those who will feel that loss most keenly live in rural communities. As seedbeds of literacy and innovation, our nation’s 125,000 public, school, academic and special libraries deserve more, not less support. Libraries of all types translate 0.003% of the federal budget into programs and services used in more than 1.2 billion in-person patron visits every year, and many more virtual visits. ALA implores President Trump to reconsider this short-sighted decision. We encourage U.S. Congressmembers, Senators and decision makers at every level of government to visit the libraries that serve their constituents and urge the White House to spare the modest federal funding for America’s libraries. And we call on all Americans who value reading, learning, and enrichment to reach out to their elected leaders and Show Up For Our Libraries at library and school meetings, town halls, and everywhere decisions are made about libraries.

Authoritarian leaders attempt to rewrite national identity, suppress minority cultures, control artistic expression, weaponize religion and rituals to expand power. In Trump’s America the arts as well as educational curriculum related to race, gender, sexuality, and human rights are all under attack. Since the New Deal, support for the arts (as well as literacy) has been expanded as essential to democracy. And that’s exactly why the Trump administration is stripping away that expression and access. You may not choose to fight the day-by-day assaults on the culture, but rest assured, they will affect your way of life.

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[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/3/21/2311695/-Trump-s-Cultural-Vandalism-Bulls-t-War-on-Woke-Will-Trash-The-Country-s-Museums-and-Libraries?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=latest_community&pm_medium=web

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