Visitors view exhibits related to slavery at the John Brown Museum at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park in Harpers Ferry, W. Va. Marilyn Jackson, CEO of the American Alliance of Museums, says political actions have contributed to a drop in philanthropic funding. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Museums faced a brutal 2025. Federal grant cancellations left holes in operating budgets, and President Trump’s targeting of museum programming prompted what Marilyn Jackson, president and CEO of the American Alliance of Museums, described as a “chill on corporate philanthropy.” Corporations and foundations, she said, are reconsidering funding for projects they previously supported.
A new AAM report details the fallout: after-school programs and services for seniors and veterans were cut, new exhibitions delayed, and maintenance projects stalled. Attendance is softening — more than half of surveyed museums report fewer visitors than in 2019.
“For the first time since the pandemic, we’re seeing museums’ recovery in reverse,” Jackson said, noting parallels with declines in theater and movie audiences and a drop in tourism that hurts museums reliant on visitors from out of town.
Looking ahead, 53% of museum leaders cited inflation as a major concern for 2026. Inflation forces museums to raise salaries and operating costs even as families trim discretionary spending and museum visits become a luxury forgone.
Museum leaders are trying a range of strategies to adapt: expanding food and hospitality offerings, hosting more events, and opening facilities for broader community use. Jackson said museums must make the case that they remain vital to local economies while adjusting to tighter budgets and shifting audience behavior.
Jennifer Vanasco edited this story for air and web.
