SAA Joins Cultural Organizations to Press for IMLS Funding

June 8, 2026—Last week, nine cultural organization, including the Society of American Archivists (SAA), called on Congress to expand federal funding for the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) in the 2027 fiscal year appropriations bill.

Addressed to the members of the House and Senate Appropriations Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Subcommittess, who make funding determinations for IMLS, the coalition letter states:

"Every federal dollar invested in libraries, museums, and archives leverages additional support from state governments, private philanthropy, foundations, and local communities, creating a force multiplier effect. Reductions in federal funding would disproportionately harm small towns, rural communities, and low-income areas that depend heavily on public cultural institutions as essential hubs and economic drivers, as well as threaten future professionals and research."

Last Friday, the House Approprations Subcommittee that oversees funding for IMLS approved level funding for the federal agency. The full House Appropriations Committee is scheduled to vote on subcommittee bills today, with allocations for specific IMLS programs to follow after. The relevant Senate Appropriations Subcommittee markup has yet to be scheduled.

SAA asks its members to contact your representatives and urge them to provide robust approprations for IMLS. It is vitally important that Congress continue to support archives, museums, and libraries around the country. Find your representatives here and reach out to them today to tell them to support robust IMLS approprations.