The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston said it will reopen Wednesday, just hours after posting the institution would remain “temporarily closed until further notice.”
“The sudden dismissal of federal employees at the JFK Library forced the museum to close today. As the Foundation that supports the JFK Library, we are devastated by this news and will continue to support our colleagues and the Library,” a spokesperson for the foundation said Tuesday evening.
The facility, one of 16 presidential libraries, is overseen by the Office of Presidential Libraries and the National Archives and Records Administration.
News of the closure spread quickly after the library posted its initial message on its website Tuesday. While it did not initially provide a reason for its shuttering, Democrats and some library supporters pointed to the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, an entity created by President Trump and led by billionaire businessman Elon Musk.
Jack Schlossberg, a Kennedy grandson, posted on social media, “Today DOGE SHUT DOWN the JFK LIBRARY.” Schlossberg said the director of presidential libraries “instructed the JFK LIBRARY to fire probationary staff effective immediately and until further notice.”
In a statement, Gov. Maura Healey said, “Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s thoughtless crusade has caused an iconic institution and economic driver to close in Massachusetts.” She said the JFK Library plays “an essential role in our state and nation’s history, our travel and tourism sector, and our economy. We hope that this closure will be temporary and urge President Trump and DOGE to reverse course so that the library can reopen to continue educating visitors and contributing to our economy.”
The museum, located at Columbia Point in Dorchester, was designed by the famed architect I.M. Pei and is perched on a sweeping waterfront site. It’s typically open seven days a week and hosts exhibits and archives related to the 35th U.S. president, as well as events.
In recent days, the Trump administration has slashed the federal workforce. It also has forced out senior leadership at the national archives.
Prior to the library announcing it would reopen, the National Archives press staff had said in a statement, “The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum will be open tomorrow, and the National Archives staff looks forward to welcoming guests, visitors, and researchers.”
The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in California was unaffected Tuesday, according to a spokesperson.
Rep. Stephen Lynch in a social media post said, “Very disappointed that Donald Trump and Elon Musk have forced the JFK Presidential Library to be closed to the public. Congress recently approved sufficient funding to keep the JFK Library open and this overreach is one more unlawful action by the Trump administration.”
President Trump now has a controversial Kennedy family member in his cabinet — JFK’s nephew, Robert F Kennedy Jr. And Trump recently took over the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., replacing board members and becoming the new chair himself.
The JFK Library annually holds its Profile in Courage awards, honoring “public servants who have made courageous decisions of conscience without regard for the personal or professional consequences.” It has given awards in recent years to politicians for defending democracy, including to former U.S. Sen. Mitt Romney for his vote to impeach Trump in 2020 and to former U.S. Congresswoman Liz Cheney for her role on the Jan. 6 committee.
This article was originally published on February 18, 2025.