San Francisco Museum Workers Oppose Proposed Staff Cuts
# San Francisco Art Museums Face Layoffs and Reduced Hours Amid Budget Shortfall
San Francisco’s renowned art museums face the prospect of staff layoffs and shortened operating hours due to budget cutbacks proposed by the city’s administration. Institutions such as the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco (FAMSF) and the Asian Art Museum (AAM) are considering cost-cutting measures to comply with Mayor Daniel Lurie’s directive to reduce general expenses by 15% across all city departments. This directive aims to address a projected $876 million budget deficit over the next two years.
## Impact on Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco
FAMSF, which oversees the **de Young Museum** and **Legion of Honor**, has been asked to cut $3.3 million from its general city fund budget. This fund, which constitutes about 20% of the museum’s total funding, covers essential operational expenses such as building maintenance and security staffing. The remaining 80% of FAMSF’s budget comes from the private nonprofit **Corporation of the Fine Arts Museums (COFAM)**.
To meet the mandated reductions, FAMSF has proposed laying off **23 of its 99 city-funded employees**, with **approximately 20 full-time security personnel expected to be affected**. In addition to security, positions in **human resources, registration, and mechanical engineering** are also at risk.
### Reduced Visiting Hours
To offset financial losses, the de Young and Legion of Honor museums would **close on Tuesdays**, adding to their existing Monday closures. This adjustment would result in an estimated **150,000 fewer visitors annually**, leading to a substantial loss in revenue from ticket sales, local community visits, and student groups.
Despite these challenges, **Helena Nordstrom, FAMSF’s communications director**, reassured the public that the institution remains in stable financial condition and continues to work with city officials to explore alternative solutions.
## Asian Art Museum Faces Staff Reductions
The Asian Art Museum (AAM) is also grappling with budget constraints and has proposed **cutting 11 to 13 full-time employees** to save $1.7 million. As with FAMSF, AAM’s **security team is expected to bear the brunt of the layoffs**, a move the museum warns could compromise visitor safety.
Currently, AAM operates with **13 to 15 security guards per shift**, but the proposal suggests reducing this number by almost half. The museum administration has cautioned that such staffing cuts may make it **unsafe to remain open at full capacity**, potentially forcing the museum to **restrict access** to certain exhibits or **close entirely** on select days.
## Staff and Union Pushback
Unionized museum employees have **strongly opposed** the proposed budget cuts, arguing that financial projections should not justify staff reductions and reduced access to cultural institutions.
**Jennie Smith-Camejo**, a spokesperson for the **SEIU 1021** union, which represents guards, registrars, and admissions attendants at multiple Bay Area museums, called these layoffs unnecessary.
> “The city’s projected budget deficit does not justify cutting jobs, reducing museum hours, or limiting access to the arts. These estimates historically **do not reflect San Francisco’s actual expenses**, and there are multiple other ways to balance the budget.”
SEIU 1021 members, along with non-unionized museum employees, have **rallied** against the budget proposals, demanding fair wages, contract transparency, and protection from unnecessary staff reductions.
## Broader Implications for San Francisco’s Arts Sector
If the proposed cuts proceed, their impact **will extend beyond museum employees**, affecting local businesses, tourism, and community programs that rely on these cultural institutions.
**Raina Johnson**, a museum guard at FAMSF since 2005, voiced concerns about how security and museum operations may suffer:
> “We already work under difficult conditions, and cutting staff only worsens the situation. If an emergency happens, we’re the first responders — yet we’re the ones facing cuts.”
In addition, the layoffs **may disproportionately affect workers of color**, as FAMSF’s security team primarily consists of **People of Color (POC)**.
## Future of Cultural Institutions in San Francisco
While museum leaders continue discussions with city officials, no final decision has been made regarding the 2026 fiscal year budget. **Mayor Lurie’s office has not yet publicly responded** to concerns raised by museum workers, unions, and arts patrons.
Supporters of the arts, including visitors and donors, are encouraged to **raise awareness and advocate for alternative funding solutions** to ensure San Francisco’s museums remain accessible to the public.
With the looming threat of job losses and service reductions, the battle over cultural funding in San Francisco highlights a larger debate: **how to balance budget constraints without compromising the city’s rich artistic and historical institutions**.