- The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library temporarily closed Tuesday afternoon, citing an executive order.
- The National Archives later announced the library would be open the following day.
- The reason for the closure and subsequent reopening remains unclear.
(This article has been updated with additional information and a video.)
The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library announced shortly after 2 p.m. Tuesday with a message on its website and social media accounts that the museum “is temporarily closed until further notice.”
“The sudden dismissal of federal employees at the JFK Library forced the museum to close today,” reads a statement from the Kennedy Library Foundation. “As the Foundation that supports the JFK Library, we are devastated by this news and will continue to support our colleagues and the Library.”
The National Archives Public and Media Communications staff provided this statement shortly after 5:30 p.m.: “The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum will be open tomorrow, and the National Archives staff looks forward to welcoming guests, visitors, and researchers.”
By 6:25 p.m. the website was updated to say the library “will reopen on Wednesday February 19” even though the library hours on the website state it is closed on Wednesdays in January and February.
What should you know about Kennedy Library and Museum
The library is located on Columbia Point and opened on Oct. 20, 1979.
“The Library seeks to advance the study and understanding of President Kennedy’s life and career and the times in which he lived; and to promote a greater appreciation of America’s political and cultural heritage, the process of governing and the importance of public service,” according to its website.
The library’s current director is Alan Price and James Roth is the deputy director.
What is the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation
The foundation describes itself as a non-profit organization that that provides money to help support the library. It also states it “enables the federal government to expand the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum’s research and archival capacity, to undertake marketing and public information projects, to offer intern and research fellowship programs, to enhance its museum and exhibits, and to offer nationally recognized educational and public programming.”
What is the reaction from Kennedy family
“DOGO and the White House shut down the JFK Library,” Jack Schlossberg, Kennedy’s 32-year-old grandson, said on his social media pages. “…. it has nothing to do with government efficiency. The employees fired today actually bring in revenue for the government. It’s really about the stealing the past.
Kennedy’s niece Maria Shriver simply posted “What the …?!” over a media story announcing the closing.
How many presidential libraries are there
The United States National Archives oversees the Presidential Library system, which is 16 libraries.
“These facilities are overseen by the Office of Presidential Libraries,” reads the description on the Archives website. “Presidential Libraries are archives and museums, bringing together the documents and artifacts of a President and his administration and presenting them to the public for study and discussion without regard for political considerations or affiliations.”
The libraries include the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum in West Branch, Iowa; the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum in Hyde Park, NY; the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum in Independence, MO; the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum in Abilene, KS; the Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library and Museum in Austin, Texas; the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum in Yorba Linda, CA; Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum in Ann Arbor and Grand Rapids, Michigan respectively; the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum in Atlanta, GA; the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley, CA; the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum in College Station, Texas; William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum in Little Rock, AR; and the George W. Bush Presidential Library in Dallas Texas.
The presidential libraries for Barack Obama, Donald J. Trump and Joseph R. Biden Jr. are not constructed as of this time. There are websites available for the public and researchers.
Are any other presidential libraries closed
The Hoover museum is closed until the summer of 2026 due to ongoing renovations but the research room is open, according to its website.
On Tuesday, both the Truman and Eisenhower libraries were closed due to the snow in those states, and the Clinton library closed due to the snow.
