7 March 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(NEW YORK) – ARC is deeply alarmed by reports that a majority of federal workers in the General Service Administration’s (GSA) fine arts and preservation department have been fired, as part of an ongoing purge of the federal workforce by the current U.S. administration. The workers fired are responsible for the maintenance and preservation of over 26,000 federally-owned artworks, including paintings and sculptures by renowned artists, some dating back to the 1850s. ARC condemns this reckless attack on publicly owned artworks and urges the GSA to take immediate action to ensure their preservation, security, and responsible stewardship. 

“These historic artworks are part of America’s cultural heritage and patrimony, and they must be preserved and maintained,” said Julie Trébault, ARC Executive Director. “The administration’s abrupt decision to terminate and indefinitely suspend dozens of fine arts and preservation workers not only jeopardizes the livelihoods of those dedicated to safeguarding these works but also places irreplaceable pieces of our national heritage at risk. The federal government’s sudden move to sell and terminate leases on buildings housing these artworks raises serious concerns about their fate, especially those permanently integrated into architectural structures as frescos and murals. The potential losses are incalculable. ARC urges the arts community, preservationists, and cultural advocates to mobilize swiftly to prevent irreversible damage and ensure that these vital pieces of our shared history remain protected for future generations.” 

Fine arts and historic preservation workers at the General Services Administration, the U.S. government’s central body for federal building operations–reported that at least five regional offices were shuttered last week and that over half of the division’s roughly three dozen staff members were suddenly put on leave pending termination. This comes amid reports from early March that the GSA will sell over 400 of the “non-core” buildings that it manages and terminate thousands of leases on others, many of which house important works of art. Workers  expressed fear that the cuts would threaten a collection of precious art housed in federal buildings across the country, including Alexander Calder’s 1973 “Flamingo” at the John C. Kluczynski Federal Building in Chicago, Ben Shahn’s 1942 fresco “The Meaning of Social Security”, and Michael Lantz’s 1942 statue “Man Controlling Trade” housed outside the Federal Trade Commission building in D.C. Some of the works in question were directly commissioned by the Great Depression-era Works Progress Administration (WPA), a New Deal program which gave rise to some of the nation’s most iconic images.

The GSA has historically served as a leasing body for federally-owned artworks, distributing them for exhibition to federal buildings across the country. Since 1974, the agency has also directly commissioned more than 500 artworks for display at public plazas and federal office buildings, including celebrated works by Ellsworth Kelly, Sam Gilliam, and Maya Lin. Fine arts and preservation staff at the agency noted that the “reduction-in-force” notices came on suddenly and with immediate effect, in some cases allowing them little time to notify artists under commission or contractors working on objects, or to take other actions which would limit harm.

About ARC 

Artists at Risk Connection (ARC) is an international organization committed to promoting and advancing the right to artistic freedom worldwide. Founded in 2017, ARC works to protect artists and cultural workers who are at risk because of their creative expression, often connected to their identities or roles within their communities. By providing vital resources and support, ARC helps artists at risk overcome challenges like persecution, censorship, threats, and violence from both state and non-state actors—whether for their artistic expression or the broader impact they have on cultural, social, and political issues.