Nevada Attorney General Aaron D. Ford has secured a court order preventing the Trump administration from dismantling three federal agencies that support public libraries, museums, workers, and minority-owned businesses across the nation.
"The president does not have the authority to defy the Constitution and destroy congressionally created agencies," stated AG Ford. He emphasized the potential impact on Nevadans, citing that "the Clark County Library District alone provides vital services for over 1.7 million Nevadans."
In April, AG Ford joined forces with 20 other attorneys general to challenge an executive order by the Trump administration aimed at dismantling the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), and the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS). The United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island granted a preliminary injunction to halt this executive order.
AG Ford and his coalition argued that dismantling these agencies would negatively affect communities in Nevada and nationwide by disrupting services such as library funding, support for minority-owned businesses, and worker rights protection.
The court concluded that there was a strong likelihood of success for claims that the executive order violated both the Administrative Procedure Act and constitutional provisions regarding agency establishment by Congress.
Joining AG Ford in this legal action are attorneys general from Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin.