Science Museum of Minnesota lays off 43 employees
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The Science Museum of Minnesota announced on Wednesday that it would be laying off 43 full-time staff members.
In a statement, the museum said the move was in response to declining attendance rates, as well as decreased state and federal funding.
The museum’s 13 percent reduction in staff comes months after the Trump administration announced that it would be cutting more than $1.3 million in grants from Minnesota museums and institutions. The administration’s rollbacks included grants that funded four projects and potentially 28 staff positions that were specific to the science museum.
Gretchen Haupt, the museum’s evaluation and research associate, has been with the company for nearly 14 years. Haupt said she found out her job was impacted at a meeting Wednesday morning with her department director.
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“Emotionally, I’m very, very angry and frustrated,” Haupt said. “This is the third year in a row we’ve had staff reductions due to financial precarity at the Science Museum. I’m just disappointed and angry.”
In 2023, the museum reduced its workforce by 15 employees. In 2020, the museum cut nearly 40 percent of its staff during the pandemic.
Haupt said her entire department was laid off as well. She said she’s confused about how the museum plans to make up for such vital services.
“How are we supposed to understand what will draw people in, which exhibits to build, how to improve experience, if we eliminate the people who gather and synthesize that information,” Haupt said.
Alison Brown, President and CEO of the museum, said in a statement, “It is a tremendously difficult decision to reorganize roles and to eliminate staff. Everyone is extremely talented and contributes meaningfully to our mission,” said Brown.
Brown adds the institution is working “in harmony with” the contract negotiated by AFSCME Council 5, the union representing workers.
But Haupt criticized the museum’s handling of the restructure.
“This could’ve been done in more collaboration with the union and department leaders, not just dropping a list of names 24 hours before,” Haupt said.
Out of a job and back searching, Haupt said she’s devastated, but grateful for the memories that she’s made.
“What I’ll miss most is my coworkers. That’s what kept me here and why I helped unionize this institution,” Haupt said. “I care so deeply about the people who come to work every day to make this mission possible.”
