Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner closed all state museums on September 30; he cited the closures as “part of his efforts to manage state finances” while a budget deal with Democratic Legislature is still being negotiated. Chairman of the State Museum Board Guerry Suggs decried the governor’s actions and said that the closure of the 138-year-old museum in Springfield and its four satellite facilities will only save the state less than $400,000 of the Illinois' projected $5 billion budget deficit. Gov. Rauner quotes the state’s savings at $6.3 million.

Back in January, Rauner's office sent layoff notices to more than 100 museum workers. As a result, labor unions sued over the state’s contract breach; Gov. Rauner said he would postpone the layoffs for union workers but would proceed with the museum closures. The state will continue pay union workers to maintain the facilities, but the museums will remain closed to the public.