JFK Library to reopen after Trump 'executive order' causes brief closure

Several employees laid off, worker says

Several employees laid off, worker says

SO FAR. JOHN. WELL, AS YOU MENTIONED, MARIA THIS LIBRARY CLOSED. I JUST SPOKE WITH A WORKER WHO DESCRIBES A PRETTY EMOTIONAL MEETING THIS AFTERNOON THAT HAPPENED JUST BEFORE IT OFFICIALLY CLOSED AT 2:00. THAT WORKER TELLING ME THAT THERE WAS THIS MEETING AND THAT WORKERS CAME OUT OF THAT MEETING IN TEARS. WE’RE TOLD AS MANY AS NINE PEOPLE APPARENTLY LET GO HERE. AND THAT IS WHY THE MUSEUM IS NOW CLOSED. NOW WE’LL SHOW YOU THE VIDEO OF THOSE SIGNS UP ON THE DOOR SAYING THAT THE MUSEUM IS CLOSED BECAUSE OF AN EXECUTIVE ORDER AND DUE TO THE EXECUTIVE ORDER, THE MUSEUM WILL BE CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. NOW, IT’S NOT CLEAR WHAT THIS EXECUTIVE ORDER IS, BUT THE MUSEUM IS ADMINISTERED BY THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION, WHICH HAS NOT RESPONDED TO OUR REQUEST FOR CLARIFICATION. NOW, I DID SPEAK WITH A WOMAN WHO BROUGHT BOUGHT TICKETS TO COME HERE THIS AFTERNOON, BUT THE DOORS WERE LOCKED WHEN HER FAMILY ARRIVED. APPROACHING THE ENTRY, THERE WAS JUST SIGNS ALL OVER THE FRONT DOORS. SEVERAL, PROBABLY LIKE 5 OR 6 OF THEM THAT JUST SAID, YOU KNOW, CLOSED DUE TO EXECUTIVE ORDER. THE DOORS WERE LOCKED AND THERE WERE YOU COULD SEE A FEW PEOPLE BEHIND THE DESK, BUT THEY WEREN’T KIND OF INTERACTING WITH US AT ALL. SO OBVIOUSLY, DISAPPOINTMENT FROM THAT FAMILY COMING HERE TO GO TO THE MUSEUM. I SPOKE WITH ANOTHER FAMILY INSIDE AT THE TIME, AND THEY WERE TOLD THAT THEY HAD TO LEAVE BECAUSE THE MUSEUM WAS CLOSING. NOW, THAT NUMBER THAT I GAVE YOU, NOT CONFIRMED BY THE MUSEUM AT THIS POINT, THIS AGAIN, JUST COMING FROM A WORKER HERE AFTER AN APPARENTLY EMOTIONAL MEETING, WE’RE TOLD THAT THE MUSEUM WILL BE CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER N

JFK Library to reopen after Trump 'executive order' causes brief closure

Several employees laid off, worker says

The National Archives, which administers the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston, announced the library will reopen Wednesday, after the library announced it was unexpectedly closed Tuesday "until further notice."The library was closed at 2 p.m. Tuesday, citing a mass firing of federal workers following a new executive order from President Donald Trump.An announcement of the closure was posted on the library's website and on social media by the JFK Library Foundation."Due to executive order, the JFK Library is closed until further notice," a foundation spokesperson said in a statement given to sister station WCVB.A matching statement, citing the executive order, was also posted on the glass door of the library.Kristen Peryer was in the museum with her family, when suddenly they were asked to leave."Other guests were walking toward us as they were being escorted out of the building, it was crazy," Peryer said. "She said it's an exec order. They're cutting staff. You have to leave."Jennifer Schaeffer bought tickets online, but by the time she and her family arrived, the museum had been shut down."There were signs all over the front door which said 'closed due to executive order' that was surprising," Schaeffer said. "Sometimes you feel separated from that, but when it directly affects a simple thing, it's kind of eye-opening."An employee described an emotional meeting that was held just before the building was closed. They said several people left the meeting in tears and that up to nine members of the staff were laid off.JFK's living relatives said the blame is on Trump and Elon Musk and their decision to fire federal workers.Jack Schlossberg, JFK's grandson, spoke out about the closure and said the director of presidential libraries from the White House and DOGE instructed the JFK Library to fire a number of staff effective immediately and until further notice."It has nothing to do with government efficiency, the workers who were fired today actually bring in revenue for the government," Schlossberg said. "It's really about stealing the past and about generating propaganda." The library and museum honoring the 35th president is housed in a landmark building, designed by I.M. Pei, on Columbia Point in Dorchester. The complex opened on Oct. 20, 1979, and then-President Jimmy Carter was among the luminaries who spoke.The facility is one of 16 presidential libraries administered by the National Archives and Records Administration."The day after President’s Day, Trump's DOGE has arbitrarily fired staff at the JFK Presidential Library, forcing it to close its doors," Sen. Ed Markey said in a statement."Shutting down this vital place of learning, engagement, and revenue creation, if even for a day isn’t just wrong, it degrades the very office of the president."Trump signed additional executive orders Tuesday at his private club and residence in Palm Beach, including one about access to IVF treatments."The JFK Library is a really special place. Every day, people from around the country & world visit to find inspiration from our 35th President. Trump let DOGE shut it down," Rep. Jim McGovern said in a statement. DOGE has not answered how much the federal government intends to save with the workforce cuts.

BOSTON —

The library was closed at 2 p.m. Tuesday, citing a mass firing of federal workers following a new executive order from President Donald Trump.

An announcement of the closure was posted on the library's and on social media by the .

"Due to executive order, the JFK Library is closed until further notice," a foundation spokesperson said in a statement given to sister station .

A matching statement, citing the executive order, was also posted on the glass door of the library.

Kristen Peryer was in the museum with her family, when suddenly they were asked to leave.

"Other guests were walking toward us as they were being escorted out of the building, it was crazy," Peryer said. "She said it's an exec order. They're cutting staff. You have to leave."

Jennifer Schaeffer bought tickets online, but by the time she and her family arrived, the museum had been shut down.

"There were signs all over the front door which said 'closed due to executive order' that was surprising," Schaeffer said. "Sometimes you feel separated from that, but when it directly affects a simple thing, it's kind of eye-opening."

An employee described an emotional meeting that was held just before the building was closed. They said several people left the meeting in tears and that up to nine members of the staff were laid off.

JFK's living relatives said the blame is on Trump and Elon Musk and their decision to fire federal workers.

Jack Schlossberg, JFK's grandson, spoke out about the closure and said the director of presidential libraries from the White House and DOGE instructed the JFK Library to fire a number of staff effective immediately and until further notice.

"It has nothing to do with government efficiency, the workers who were fired today actually bring in revenue for the government," Schlossberg said. "It's really about stealing the past and about generating propaganda."

The library and museum honoring the 35th president is housed in a landmark building, designed by I.M. Pei, on Columbia Point in Dorchester. The complex opened on Oct. 20, 1979, and then-President Jimmy Carter was among the luminaries who spoke.

The facility is one of 16 presidential libraries administered by the National Archives and Records Administration.

"The day after President’s Day, Trump's DOGE has arbitrarily fired staff at the JFK Presidential Library, forcing it to close its doors," Sen. Ed Markey said in a statement.

"Shutting down this vital place of learning, engagement, and revenue creation, if even for a day isn’t just wrong, it degrades the very office of the president."

Trump signed additional executive orders Tuesday at his private club and residence in Palm Beach, including one about access to IVF treatments.

"The JFK Library is a really special place. Every day, people from around the country & world visit to find inspiration from our 35th President. Trump let DOGE shut it down," Rep. Jim McGovern said in a statement.

DOGE has not answered how much the federal government intends to save with the workforce cuts.

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