The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco (FAMSF), which operates the de Young Museum and the Legion of Honor, announced the layoff of 12 staff members on July 18, 2025. Director and CEO Thomas P. Campbell cited a prolonged period of softening tourism in San Francisco, with visitor numbers down nearly 20 percent compared to pre-pandemic levels, as the reason for the reduction. The layoffs primarily affect FAMSF's nonprofit side and follow a March discussion to cut city-funded positions by nearly a quarter after the mayor's office mandated a 15 percent reduction in general spending.
This development matters because it reflects broader financial pressures facing major cultural institutions in the post-pandemic era, particularly those reliant on tourism and city funding. The layoffs at FAMSF come on the heels of similar cuts at the San Francisco Museum of Art, which eliminated 42 positions in May, signaling a troubling trend for the Bay Area's art ecosystem. The decision underscores the ongoing challenge museums face in balancing operational sustainability with declining public attendance and reduced municipal support.