Advocacy Alert – April 10, 2026

In this Alliance Advocacy Alert:

• President’s Budget Released and Appropriations Updates
• Take Action: Encourage Congress to Support Museum Funding
• GOOD NEWS! Administration Withdraws Appeal in IMLS Case
• Upcoming Advocacy Programming at AAM Annual Meeting & MuseumExpo
• Advocacy Tip of the Month: It’s Okay to Not Know the Answer

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President’s Budget Released and Appropriations Updates

On April 3, the President released his FY2027 budget request, which once again proposed eliminating IMLS, NEA and NEH. The President’s budget lays out the desired goals of the administration, but it is ultimately up to Congress to fund the agencies. Read AAM’s statement.

Congress has continuously chosen to fund the agencies despite the President’s request to eliminate funding. This is thanks to advocacy efforts from the museum ecosystem. Now is one of the key times to contact Congress to ensure these agencies get funded.

Senate: The Senate is currently circulating a Dear Colleague letter for Senators to sign supporting funding for the Office of Museum Services at IMLS. The Senate letter closes on April 17. Write to your Senators and encourage them to sign the letter.

House: The House Dear Colleague letter circulated for signers last month. This year’s letter had 133 members of the House sign the letter, which is 10 more than last year. See if your House member signed the letter.

Want to learn more about the Appropriations process? Check out AAM’s most recent advocacy webinar “Appropriations 101: The Process of Funding the Federal Government”

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Take Action: Encourage Congress to Support Museum Funding

For Museums, Associations, and Companies:

For Individuals: Send an email to your members of Congress and make sure to personalize the letter.

Special Note: Inviting your members of Congress to visit your museum is a valuable opportunity. AAM encourages museums to invite their representatives to visit their museum in the month of August. We will be sending out more information in next month’s Advocacy Alert about Invite Congress 2026, but you should start thinking about participating now.

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Good News! Administration Withdraws Appeal in IMLS Case

The Trump Administration has withdrawn IMLS from its appeal in the Rhode Island v. Trump court case. This means that the ruling reinstating IMLS, its staff, and grants will remain in place. This is a big win for museums!

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Upcoming Advocacy Programming at AAM Annual Meeting & MuseumExpo

Are you coming to AAM 2026 in Philadelphia in May? Check out the advocacy and government relations sessions and activities:

• Government Relations and Policy 101 with AAM Staff, May 21 from 8:30-9:30 am. Learn about the interconnectivity of the federal government and advocacy. Delve into ongoing efforts to expand awareness of museums’ importance as economic drivers, educational spaces, and centers of culture and community—and how you can help.
• Advocacy & Policy Roundtable Conversations, May 22 from 11:00 am-12:00 pm. Come have facilitated conversations about museum advocacy and policy with your colleagues from across the country and network.
• Advocacy Open House, May 21 from 4-5 pm. Questions about museum advocacy and policy or just want to meet AAM’s Advocacy and Government Relations staff? Stop by the AAM Resource Center in the Expo Hall.
• Write Your Representatives. AAM will have a setup in the AAM Resource Center for attendees to write their members of Congress.

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Advocacy Tip of the Month: It’s Okay to Not Know the Answer

If a lawmaker or their staff ask you a question during a meeting, it’s okay not to know the answer. They do not expect you to know the answer to every question they ask. Let them know you will find out and get back to them. This leads to an excellent follow-up opportunity to continue the conversation outside of the meeting and continue to build relationships with the lawmaker or their staff.