In an all-staff meeting held on February 7, Brooklyn Museum Director Anne Pasternak announced that the institution would be forced to implement layoffs in response to a persistent budget deficit that is projected to reach $10 million by the end of the current fiscal year.

It is estimated that approximately 60 full- and part-time employees across union and non-union positions will be affected by the staff cuts, although the exact number is yet to be confirmed.

To address the significant cash flow problem, the Brooklyn Museum will also be implementing a hiring freeze for non-critical positions and salary reductions of up to 20% for senior leadership members. Pasternak herself earned $1,012,633 in 2023, according to the most recent financial filings.

Other planned cost-saving measures include reducing the number of exhibitions held annually and increasing the endowment draw, although legal restrictions limit the museum’s ability to rely heavily on endowment withdrawals.

Pasternak attributed the deficit to factors such as rising inflation affecting expenses, stagnant government contributions, and an escalating operating budget of $64 million for the 2025 fiscal year. She emphasized that salaries account for about 70% of the operating budget.

“We cannot sustain operations with the growing deficit we are facing. No organization can survive under these conditions,” Pasternak stated, emphasizing the need for difficult cuts and strategic investments to stabilize the museum’s finances.

The museum’s endowment stood at $175.2 million for the fiscal year ending June 2023, significantly lower than that of comparable institutions. Pasternak also highlighted the museum’s pay-what-you-wish admission policy for locals, which limits earned revenue.

The announcement of staff cuts followed a statement from Local 1502, a union representing 130 museum workers, urging the museum to explore alternative solutions to its financial challenges. Pasternak assured staff that negotiations with unions would be conducted according to contractual agreements.

Impacted employees are expected to receive updates on their employment status from Human Resources throughout the day.

This story is still developing.