EPA Closes Museum Amid $4M Cost Concerns

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is closing its one-room museum just a year after its opening, citing its high operational costs and low visitor numbers. Built at a cost of $4 million, the museum attracted fewer than 2,000 visitors in ten months, resulting in an operational cost of approximately $315 per visitor. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin criticized the museum as an example of waste during the Biden administration, stating it presented a selective historical narrative of the agency. The closure aligns with the cost-cutting measures under the Trump administration, which has aimed to streamline federal spending and reduce programs deemed unnecessary. Despite its location near popular landmarks, the museum struggled to draw visitors, leading some to view its closure as symbolic of a broader shift in federal priorities. Others argue that shutting the museum reduces public engagement with the agency's history and achievements.