AG Neronha co-leads lawsuit against Trump Administration to protect libraries, workers, and small businesses
"By unlawfully attacking these agencies, they are attempting to stifle the American dream. We won’t let them, and neither should you," said AG Neronha.
From a press release:
Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha today co-led a coalition of 20 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 small businesses nationwide.
In March, the Trump Administration issued an Executive Order to 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. In addition, the labor organizing staff and programs of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) have been slashed, and the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) has been forced to cut off its grant programs that support small business owners. The lawsuit filed by Attorney General Neronha and the coalition seeks to stop the targeted destruction of the IMLS and the two other agencies targeted in the administration’s EO that millions of Americans rely on, especially those in underserved communities.
“As the President and his Administration continue their attempts to dismantle the federal government, Americans would do well to consider their priorities,” said Attorney General Neronha. “What do these three agencies have in common? At first glance, maybe little. But if you take a closer look, you may realize that all three agencies empower everyday people in this country to access their full potential, whether it be through knowledge, workers’ rights, or small business support. By unlawfully attacking these agencies, they are attempting to stifle the American dream. We won’t let them, and neither should you.”
This Executive Order is the administration’s latest attempt to dismantle federal agencies in defiance of Congress. Attorney General Neronha 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 Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS), which promotes peaceful resolution of labor disputes.
The Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), which promotes the growth and inclusion of minority-owned businesses through federal financial assistance programs; and
As Attorney General Neronha and the coalition assert in the lawsuit, dismantling these agencies will have devastating effects on communities throughout Rhode Island and the nation that rely on them to provide important public services.
In 2024, IMLS invested $180 million in libraries nationwide under its Grants to States Program. The administration’s action will threaten hundreds of library staff nationwide who provide essential services to their communities. Rhode Island’s Office of Library and Information Services (OLIS) received nearly $1.5 million from the Institute of Museum and Library Services in 2024. These funds support nearly 50% of OLIS’s staff, programs, and services in Rhode Island.
The FMCS has slashed its staff from roughly 200 to fewer than 15 individuals and announced the termination of several core programs, making it harder for unionized workers to secure their rights. Many of Rhode Island’s collective bargaining agreements rely on mediation through FMCS. For example, as noted in court documents, the Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) and one of its unions used the services of FMCS just last year, avoiding a strike that could have compromised DCYF’s ability to ensure stability and security for children in their care. Even where state workers are not involved, the inability to access FMCS services could have devastating impacts on access to critical services. For example, the Teamsters Local 251 represents nearly 5,000 members across the transportation and healthcare industries. The Teamsters have relied on access to FMCS to resolve disputes and avoid significant disruptions to our schools and access to healthcare.
In addition, the Trump administration has cut the MBDA staff from 40 to just five individuals and has effectively stopped issuing new grants, hurting vulnerable small businesses across the country. The MBDA provides many valuable services to Rhode Island’s small businesses, including one-on-one guidance and expertise on business strategies and resources. The MBDA also provides grants for incubators such as Rhode Island’s Small Business HUB.
Attorney General Neronha and the coalition argue that the Executive Order violates the United States Constitution and the Administrative Procedure Act by eliminating agencies’ programs without regard for the laws and regulations governing 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’s power to decide how federal funds are spent.
Attorney General Neronha co-leads this lawsuit with Attorney General Letitia James of New York and Attorney General Anne Lopez of Hawaii. The attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin also joined the lawsuit.
Press release:
Attorney General Neronha and coalition secure preliminary injunction order to protect libraries, workers, and small businesses
Attorney General Neronha today announced that a Rhode Island court entered a preliminary injunction order to stop the dismantling of three federal agencies that provide services and funding supporting public libraries and museums, workers, and small businesses nationwide. This order follows the court’s granting of a preliminary injunction filed by Attorney General Neronha’s office and a coalition of 19 other attorneys general.
“This order tells the Trump Administration, in no uncertain terms, that it must immediately end the dismantling of these important agencies and resume the disbursement of allocated funding, and fast,” said Attorney General Neronha. “Americans have quickly grown weary of their government attacking them instead of working for them. Above all else, as attorneys general, we have an obligation to protect the residents of our states from harm, even when, perhaps especially when, it comes from the federal government. With this order and many others, we are stopping this President in his tracks, and we will continue to fight every single step of the way.”
Last week, Attorney General Neronha released the following statement after the court granted the states’ motion for a preliminary injunction.
“Today’s preliminary injunction is a critical win for the public interest. When the Trump Administration attempts to dismantle these agencies, it is making a targeted, concerted effort to prohibit everyday people from accessing their full potential. They know that these agencies represent opportunities for the American people to better themselves through limitless and free access to knowledge, workers’ rights, and small business support. This Administration also knows that suppressing and stifling access to opportunity helps them maintain and expand their power. We won’t let them, and neither should you.
“This year, I have traveled across the state and listened to Rhode Islanders who are concerned about what the future holds. While I don’t have all the answers, I often point to days like today as examples of attorneys general across the country taking swift, aggressive action in the face of unlawful federal behavior, and our courts ultimately upholding the rule of law. We’ve won many times before; we won today; and we will win in the future.”
Attorney General Neronha co-led this lawsuit with Attorney General Letitia James of New York and Attorney General Anne Lopez of Hawaii. The attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin are also joining the lawsuit.
Attorney General Neronha secures preliminary injunction to protect libraries, workers, and small businesses
Attorney General Neronha today released the following statement after a Rhode Island court granted a preliminary injunction filed by his office and a coalition of 20 other attorneys general to stop the dismantling of three federal agencies that provide services and funding supporting public libraries and museums, workers, and small businesses nationwide.
“Today’s preliminary injunction is a critical win for the public interest,” said Attorney General Neronha. “When the Trump Administration attempts to dismantle these agencies, it is making a targeted, concerted effort to prohibit everyday people from accessing their full potential. They know that these agencies represent opportunities for the American people to better themselves through free access to knowledge through their local public libraries, to protect their labor and employment rights, and to help their small businesses grow. This Administration also knows that through suppressing and stifling access to opportunity, they can maintain and expand their power. We won’t let them, and neither should you.
“This year, I have traveled across the state and listened to Rhode Islanders who are concerned about what the future holds. While I don’t have all the answers, I often point to days like today as examples of attorneys general across the country taking swift, aggressive action in the face of unlawful federal behavior, and our courts ultimately upholding the rule of law. We’ve won many times before; we won today; and we will win in the future.”