Alabama Libraries Told to Comply with Trump’s Gender-Ideology Funding Ban
Libraries must comply with EO 14168 or risk loosing federal funding
Alabama Public Library Service (APLS) Board Chairman John Wahl has directed every public library in the state to align with President Trump’s Executive Order (EO) barring the use of federal funds to promote “gender ideology.”
In a letter sent July 16 by Wahl, library directors were informed that failure to comply could jeopardize future federal grant eligibility. Wahl emphasized that libraries must inspect their collections, programming, and institutional policies to ensure no federal dollars support gender-ideology content.
“As Chairman of the Alabama Public Library Service, I stand firmly behind President Trump’s executive order protecting children from radical gender ideology and restoring biological truth,” Wahl said. “This letter makes it clear that federal taxpayer dollars cannot be used to push gender ideology on our children. Libraries should be places of learning, not platforms for social agendas.”
President Trump’s Executive Order 14168—formally known as "Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government"—was issued on January 20, 2025. It bars federal agencies and grant recipients from using federal funds to promote “gender ideology” and requires agencies to interpret “sex” strictly as a biological binary.
Wahl’s letter urges Alabama libraries to take immediate steps ahead of the new fiscal year. He added:
“Sexuality and gender identity are deeply personal and complex topics and should be approached with care, respect, and parental involvement.”
He went on to say:
“Taxpayer dollars should never be used to push controversial social ideologies on our youth—especially without parental consent. Alabama libraries should be places where families feel safe, respected, and welcome. That starts with keeping divisive political agendas out of collections dedicated to children.”
Wahl denied that the Board’s directive amounts to censorship. Instead, he said it seeks to protect children and maintain public trust, ensuring that libraries remain focused on literacy and service.
“The Alabama Public Library Service has taken a strong stand in defense of parental rights, biological truth, and the innocence of childhood. We are proud to stand with the families of Alabama as we work to protect the next generation from sexually explicit and inappropriate content.”
Nationally, several federal agencies have begun rescinding or amending grant policies tied to the EO. For example, the National Endowment for the Arts briefly implemented restrictions on “gender ideology” grants—but later backtracked after legal pushback from arts groups.
At the same time, civil-rights groups—including the National Urban League and Lambda Legal—have challenged the EO in federal court. One suit argues it violates due process and suppresses free speech by limiting diversity and inclusion (DEI) efforts .
Under Wahl’s directive, libraries in Alabama must:
- Identify any materials, programs, or policies funded through APLS federal grants that mention gender identity or set out gender-ideology themes.
- Remove or revise elements that could be seen as promoting what the order calls “gender ideology.”
- Adjust future grant plans to ensure federal funds are not used for these purposes.
Failure to comply could cost libraries significant grant funding, impacting their ability to purchase books, host events, or operate youth services funded by state-administered federal grants.
An APLS Board meeting has been scheduled for Thursday, July 17, 2025 at 10:00 AM. Groups both supporting and opposing the Board’s position on this issue are expected to gather at the APLS Headquarters, 6030 Monticello Dr., Montgomery, AL 36117. ALPolitics.com Managing Editor Dr. Bill Chitwood is among those who will be delivering public commentary at the meeting.
A screenshot of the letter is below:
