The Trump administration has moved to fire federal employees responsible for maintaining the U.S. government’s collection of over 26,000 artworks and artifacts. At least five regional offices of the General Services Administration (GSA) were closed last week, and more than half of the agency’s approximately three dozen workers were put on leave, pending termination. The GSA collection includes murals, paintings, sculptures, and environmental artworks by artists such as Mark Rothko, Jacob Lawrence, Maya Lin, and Louise Nevelson.
The staffing cuts are expected to negatively impact the diverse range of art on display across the U.S.
In a memo, Acting GSA Administrator Stephen Ehikian stated that the terminated divisions “no longer align” with the GSA and the Trump administration’s values, referencing federal budget cuts led by Elon Musk. Anonymous workers expressed concern for artworks installed outdoors and those undergoing conservation work during the dismissals. The GSA has commissioned more than 500 works for its properties since 1974 and maintains an active commissions program, with 0.5 percent of construction costs dedicated to such projects.
GSA art caretakers dismissed
It is unclear if projects initiated by the previous administration will proceed. Before their dismissal, GSA staff were instructed to quickly digitize their records into a shared drive.
The administration has also shown interest in selling around half of its art portfolio. On March 4, the agency published and then deleted a list of federal properties and assets eligible for sale, alarming its staffers. The Trump administration has also moved to close 34 National Park Service (NPS) offices across the country.
Last month, the White House terminated 1,000 of the NPS agency’s employees, raising fears that the art and artifacts housed in NPS museums will suffer from inadequate staffing and facilities. Theresa Pierno, president and chief executive of the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA), said in a statement that the administration’s budget cuts “are pushing our parks past the point of no return.”
Photo by; Alina Grubnyak on Unsplash
