85% of US Museums Face Costly Building Repairs, GAO Report Finds

According to a survey conducted by the US Government Accountability Office (GAO), approximately 85% of museums in the United States are dealing with a significant backlog in maintenance, while 77% have identified structural problems that jeopardize their collections. The report, published in March 2026, is derived from a survey involving roughly 300 museums and 17 site visits. Many of these institutions are small and operate on tight budgets, with rural areas experiencing elevated costs for materials and labor. Accessibility remains a challenge, as numerous locations were established before the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act. Nearly half of the museums reported deferred maintenance exceeding $100,000, relying on private donations due to the unavailability of federal construction grants. This report assists Congress in the reauthorization of the Institute of Museum and Library Services, which had its budget lapse in 2025 but is allocated $291.8 million for fiscal 2026.