By ABIGAIL SHEARER
Tiger Media Network
The Sternberg Museum of Natural History is confronting serious financial challenges following significant funding cuts from the federal level. In April, federal funds that were approved three years ago were halted, and Sternberg is no longer able to use the rest of the funds. This prompts concern among staff and supporters about the museum’s future and its role in the region.
“We lost $134,000,” said Reese Barrick, director of the Sternberg Museum. “That’s three or four years of funding for students—just gone.”
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The cuts have forced the museum to reconsider its financial priorities and explore backup plans.
“It just means that we don’t have the ability to dip into some resources to help us do cool projects or find other sources if we have emergency things that we have to take care of,” Barrick said.
The Institute of Museum and Library Services says the broader impact could be severe, particularly in terms of access and equity. In an April statement, the IMLS urged the administration and Congress to rescind this recent round of cancellation of grants to state library agencies, libraries, and museums.
“What’s being cut is affecting millions of people, and then what you’re doing is increasing the value to [just] this many people,” Barrick said. “That’s tragic.”
The museum has long served as an educational and cultural hub in western Kansas, and Barrick now hope that renewed awareness will bring support to help preserve its mission for future generations.
The IMLS is currently filing multiple lawsuits against the Trump administration in order to resume funding that serves libraries and museums across the country. On Tuesday, May 6, a federal judge halted Trump’s attempt to eliminate the IMLS. However cuts that were already made have not been restored.