John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston Will Reopen Wednesday After Brief Closure

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Update: Shortly after this story was published, the JFK Library Foundation posted on Instagram, noting that the Library and Museum will reopen on Wednesday February 19.

Original:
Earlier today, the John F. Kennedy President Library and Museum in Boston announced that it will be closed until further notice. The closure appears to be related to the sweeping layoffs across federal agencies implemented by the Trump administration, and more specifically the Elon Musk-headed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

“The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum is temporarily closed until further notice,” reads the brief message shared to the Boston institution's website and social media accounts. CBS reports that a note was left on the door which reads: “Due to an Executive Order concerning a 'reduction in force (RIF),' the JFK Library and Museum will be closed to the public until further notice.” In recent days, the acting archivist of the United States and several senior level staff members at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA, the administration which oversees the JFK Library) have resigned. Additionally, per local news outlet GHB news, five employees of the Library were laid off Tuesday “in connection with a Trump administration overhaul of federal workers.”

“Without them, we are unable to stay open,” a source told the publication.

The Washington Post's Washington bureau chief Matt Viser further reports that five members of staff “who carried out key tasks” were let go and that visitors were escorted out of the iconic I.M. Pei & Partners building as it was being closed on Tuesday.

At least two members of the Kennedy family have publicly weighed in on the closure.

Former congressman Joe Kennedy III, who is the grand-nephew of President Kennedy gave an interview with local outlet WBZ News. He further confirmed that five employees were let go as a result of Trump's executive order, and noted that those members of staff work on the day-to-day operations of the Library, and have a hand in the institution's revenue-generating programs. He also spoke of how visitors were ushered out of the museum to close the building effective immediately on Tuesday.

“The issue though isn't so much what it means for me or anyone, a member of my family, that the Library gets shut down,” he said, when asked about his personal reaction to the news. “It's in the name of our government. We're starting to shut libraries that are tools to educate our public about our history and try to use that history to learn for our future. That's a dangerous thing and let's hope that this was a mistake. Let's hope it will get corrected, but at a certain point here, folks, you can't keep shooting first asking questions later and say, 'Oh, we'll fix it again.'” Watch his full interview about the closure here.

Additionally, Jack Schlossberg, the son of Caroline Kennedy and the only grandson of President Kennedy returned to social media to speak out about the closure.

“Hey, it's Jack. I'm okay. But our country is not,” he said in a video message on Instagram.

“It's time to speak out and resist what's happening. If you're not doing that, you're not helping. The darkest places in hell are reserved for those who in times of great moral crisis, maintain their neutrality. Dante's Inferno. Okay. Thank you everyone.” Watch the full video below:

Schlossberg also shared the Library's Instagram announcement of the closure, adding his own caption, which criticized DOGE and the Trump administration and praised the JFK Library staff. He wrote in part: “This isn’t about me — but I have worked with the JFKL staff for decades and they are truly amazing. Thank you to them, to Rachel day Flor, to the ARCHIVISTS OF THE US never thought they’d be on the frontlines of battle but here we are!!” Read the full caption below:

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