Museum Federal Grants Reinstated, for Now

EAST MEREDITH—On Wednesday, May 21, Hanford Mills Museum was notified by e-mail that its two federal grants funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services were reinstated “in accordance with the court’s Preliminary Injunction Order of May 13, 2025, in State of Rhode Island, et al. v. Trump et al., case no. 1:25-cv-00128.” These grants had been awarded in 2022 and 2024 under the agency’s established award process and were among many museum and library grants that were terminated in April by acting IMLS Director Keith Sonderling, officials said in a press release.

“We are delighted that these grants were reinstated,” said Executive Director Kajsa Harley. “While this is great news for us, we are moving forward cautiously because we don’t know if the reinstatements are permanent.”