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The california Academy of science layoff has sent shockwaves through one of the nation’s most recognized science institutions, as the San Francisco museum confirmed it will eliminate nearly 9% of its workforce amid a growing $7.3 million budget deficit.

The California Academy of Sciences, located in Golden Gate Park, is a sprawling scientific campus that blends an aquarium, planetarium, natural history museum, and a living rainforest under one roof—home to more than 60,000 live animals and millions of research specimens.

But behind the glass exhibits and immersive ecosystems, financial pressure has been quietly mounting like tectonic stress beneath the surface.

Revenue decline and rising costs collide

Post-pandemic shifts hit attendance hard

Museum leadership said the institution has struggled with rising operational expenses tied to animal care, facility maintenance, and scientific programming, all while visitor numbers continue to slide in the wake of pandemic-era changes in public behavior.

Between 2019 and 2024, full-price daytime attendance dropped sharply from more than 403,000 visitors to just over 324,000, reflecting a nearly 20% decline in foot traffic.

At the same time, federal funding cuts and increased competition for philanthropic donations have further strained revenue streams that once supported the museum’s expansive operations.

Staff reductions aim to stabilize finances

53 positions eliminated across departments

Executive Director Scott D. Sampson confirmed that 53 employees have been laid off across management, union, and non-union roles as part of a broader cost-cutting strategy.

“These reductions are always a last resort,” Sampson said in a statement, emphasizing that staff members are central to the institution’s scientific and educational mission.

The cuts are designed to streamline operations and prioritize visitor experience, education programs, and ongoing research initiatives.

Budget structure under pressure

Labor costs dominate operating expenses

According to leadership, salaries and benefits account for roughly 70% of the museum’s annual budget, making workforce reductions one of the few immediate levers available to address the deficit.

The remaining 30% covers facility operations, including the maintenance of complex ecosystems such as the rainforest dome and aquatic habitats.

Second wave of layoffs since 2020

This marks the second major round of workforce reductions in recent years. During the pandemic in 2020, the institution laid off 110 employees, furloughed 92 more, and implemented pay cuts as part of emergency financial measures.

Sampson acknowledged the repeated cycles of contraction and recovery, noting the challenge of stabilizing operations in a post-pandemic environment.

A difficult reset for a global institution

Future sustainability at the center of decision

Despite the cuts, leadership insists the restructuring is necessary to secure the museum’s long-term future.

“These adjustments will allow the Academy to continue delivering scientific research, education, and community engagement for generations to come,” Sampson said, describing the layoffs as a painful but necessary step to close the budget gap.

For an institution that functions like a living ecosystem itself—interconnected, fragile, and constantly adapting—the financial restructuring reflects an urgent effort to restore balance before deeper instability takes hold.