A new report from the Government Accountability Office, analyzed by The Art Newspaper, reveals that roughly 85 percent of American museums are dealing with deferred maintenance or major repair needs, and about 77 percent have at least one structural issue that could endanger their collections. Many of the country's 16,700 museums are small, under-resourced operations housed in aging or historic buildings, with half reporting over $100,000 in deferred maintenance. Basic repairs like roofs or HVAC systems can consume large portions of annual budgets, forcing some institutions to store artworks in makeshift spaces like garages or bathrooms.
The report underscores a systemic funding crisis: federal support rarely covers capital improvements, leaving museums reliant on private fundraising while maintenance costs escalate. The findings come as Congress considers the future of the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the main federal agency for museums, whose budget is under $300 million. The situation challenges the perception of museums as well-funded institutions and highlights the existential threat that decaying infrastructure poses to collections and accessibility across the U.S.