Boston’s JFK Presidential Library and Museum temporarily shuts down over Trump order
The JFK Library and Museum closed abruptly Tuesday afternoon, with no explanation or indication of when it will reopen.
The JFK Library in Dorchester, Boston has been closed indefinitely due to federal job reductions, according to former Congressman Joe Kennedy III, who spoke to WBZ-TV.
A sign on the library's door on Tuesday afternoon explained that the closure was a result of an Executive Order concerning a "reduction in force (RIF)," and that the library would remain closed to the public until further notice.
Why was the JFK Library closed in Boston?
An announcement of the closure was posted on the library's website and on social media by the JFK Foundation.
"Due to executive order, the JFK Library is closed until further notice," a foundation spokesperson said in a statement given to NewsCenter 5.
“Located on a 10-acre park, overlooking the sea that he loved and the city that launched him to greatness, the Library stands as a vibrant tribute to the life and times of John F. Kennedy,” the site says.
WBZ-TV learned that the Kennedy Library received a call from the National Archives on Tuesday morning, notifying them that all probationary employees would be laid off immediately. These workers, all of whom have been employed at the library for less than a year, were impacted by the cuts.
According to CBS News and WBZ-TV, there was no explanation given, and a spokesperson couldn't immediately be reached for a comment.
Joe Kennedy III on JFK Library closure
Joe Kennedy III explained that the closure affects about half a dozen key positions, which are essential for the library's daily operations. He expressed his concern, stating, "I would like to think that it was not a deliberate attack on the Kennedy Library, but I think what we’ve seen is a lack of consideration for the consequences of these actions."
Kennedy also criticized the idea of targeting libraries as a way to address government efficiency, stating, "When we start shutting down libraries in the name of government efficiency, we have a problem."
Visitors to the library on Tuesday were escorted out, and the doors were locked. Those present described the staff as appearing shocked by the sudden closure. The move follows President Donald Trump's recent order to reduce the federal workforce by laying off nearly all probationary employees, as part of an effort to reduce what he has called a "bloated" government workforce.
The JFK Library, located at Columbia Point in Dorchester, has been a prominent institution since its opening in 1979 and operates seven days a week for most of the year. While it receives a federal appropriation for building maintenance and part of its personnel costs, the majority of the library’s budget comes from admission fees and donations.