BREAKING: Connecticut Attorney General William Tong Leads Coalition to Victory,Blocking Administration’s Attempt to Dismantle Federal Agencies
HARTFORD,CT – Connecticut Attorney General William Tong,alongside a coalition of 21 state attorneys general,has successfully defended four federal agencies from being eliminated by a recent executive order. A District court ruling, secured by the coalition, bars the administration from taking any further action to dismantle the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS), and the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH).
The lawsuit, initially filed in April, argued that the President lacks the constitutional authority to unilaterally eliminate agencies established and funded by Congress. The administration’s attempt to bypass Congressional authority and abruptly cease agency programs was deemed unlawful by the court.
“This is a meaningful victory for the rule of law and for the vital services these agencies provide to Connecticut and the nation,” said Attorney General Tong.
The agencies targeted by the executive order play critical roles across the country. IMLS provides crucial grantmaking,research,and policy development support to museums and libraries nationwide. MBDA focuses on the growth and inclusion of minority-owned businesses through federal financial assistance. FMCS works to resolve labor disputes peacefully, and USICH coordinates federal efforts to prevent and end homelessness.
The impact of losing these agencies would have been especially acute in Connecticut. The Connecticut State Library receives $2.2 million annually from IMLS, funding the salaries of 13 workers and supporting programs including early literacy initiatives, summer reading programs, and resources for veterans and military families. Last year alone,federal funding supported 8,827 summer reading programs across the state,serving 229,470 children and teens. Over 5,500 Connecticut residents, including 316 veterans, rely on federally-funded accessible audio and braille books, and federal funding provides free access to over 50,000 eBooks for all Connecticut residents.
In May, the coalition secured a preliminary injunction halting implementation of the executive order.The June filing amended the lawsuit to include USICH. The District Court’s decision on summary judgment effectively ends the administration’s efforts to eliminate these four agencies.
the lawsuit was brought by the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, connecticut, Delaware, Hawai’i, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin.
Media Contact: Elizabeth Benton,elizabeth.benton@ct.gov
Consumer Inquiries: 860-808-5318, attorney.general@ct.gov
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