Attorney General Aaron M. Frey joined a coalition of 20 other attorneys general in suing the Trump administration to stop the dismantling of three federal agencies that provide services and funding supporting public libraries and museums, workers, and minority-owned businesses nationwide.

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.  As a result of this Executive Order, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) — one of the targeted agencies — has placed almost its entire staff on administrative leave and will cut hundreds of grants for state libraries and museums. The lawsuit filed by Attorney General Frey and the coalition seeks to stop the targeted destruction of the IMLS and two other agencies targeted in the administration’s Executive Order that millions of Amerians rely on, especially those in underserved comnunities.

The three agencies targeted by the Trump administration in definance of Congress are:  The Institute of Museum and Library Serices (IMLS); The Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) and The Federal Mediation Services Conciliation (FMCS).

Attorney General Frey and the coalition argue that the Executive Order violates the Constitution and the Administrative Procedure Act by eliminating the programs of agenies without any regard for the laws and regulations that govern each source of federal funding  The coalition argues that the president cannot decide to unilaterally override laws governing federal spending and that this Executive Order unconstitutionally overrides Congress’ power to decide how federal funds are spent.