On Monday, January 27, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released Memorandum M-25-13 instructing all federal agencies to temporarily pause the obligation and distribution of all federal funding (other than payments to individuals). This order was challenged in court, and a federal judge temporarily blocked part of the order before it could go into effect on Tuesday, January 28. The OMB ultimately rescinded the memo today, Wednesday, January 29. This issue is still critical for the future of museums and history organizations.
Federal funding through the Institute of Museum and Library Services, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Endowment for the Arts, Department of Energy, NOAA, FEMA, and other federal agencies supports history organizations throughout the country in various ways. Loss of these funds, especially with little or no time to plan for the impact of the loss, could cause significant damage to the ability to preserve and interpret, as well as to educate the public about the rich history of our nation, particularly as we prepare for the 250th anniversary of the United States in 2026.
AASLH is watching for further developments of this rapidly changing issue and others in Washington that impact history organizations. Please look for our Weekly Dispatch newsletter for updates and ways you can get involved. If you do not receive Dispatch, you can subscribe at www.aaslh.org.
We also encourage you to do more research on the impact of these executive orders on cultural organizations in your state. AASLH is a proud supporter of the American Alliance of Museum’s (AAM) Advocacy Day held each February. AAM’s website includes information on how to contact your Congressional delegation to let them know the importance of federal funding to the museums, libraries, history organizations, and other nonprofits in your community. Please take time to contact your members of Congress using the AAM template letter to express your concerns about how this memo will impact your museum or community.
