Imagine a sacred place meant to honor unimaginable loss, now embroiled in controversy over its leadership’s pay. The CEO of the 9/11 Memorial & Museum is defending ‘extravagant’ salaries amidst public fury. With millions lost and hefty admission fees, how do we balance remembrance with responsibility?

A storm of public outrage has engulfed the 9/11 Memorial & Museum following a controversial defense of its executive compensation by the institution’s president and CEO. This week, the leader offered what many have termed a tone-deaf justification for what critics are calling extravagant executive salaries, igniting a heated debate about the stewardship of a revered national monument.

In an email to the foundation’s trustees, Elizabeth Hillman asserted that “our executive compensation lags well behind that of peer institutions,” further stating that “recent compensation studies have supported adjustments across the organization.” However, the email, later obtained by the press, conspicuously omitted any mention of specific peer institutions or the detailed compensation studies purportedly supporting these adjustments, raising questions about transparency.

This latest development follows earlier revelations by The Post, which brought to light the ballooning salaries at the nonprofit. These increases have occurred even as the 9/11 Memorial & Museum consistently operates at a significant deficit, drawing sharp criticism from the public and, crucially, from some families of first responders who perished on 9/11.

The financial struggles of the institution are stark, with the museum reportedly losing nearly $20 million in 2024. Despite these substantial financial losses, visitors are still charged a hefty $36 adult admission fee. Compounding the issue, the museum has secured at least $4.5 million in taxpayer funds, prompting public scrutiny over the allocation of both private and public monies.

Glenn Corbett, a professor of fire science at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and an advisor to 9/11 firefighter families, highlighted a particularly sensitive point: the only way for some families to access the remains of their loved ones is through the museum, which requires paid admission. This creates an ethical dilemma, intertwining remembrance with financial barriers.

Rosemary Cain, whose firefighter son was tragically killed on 9/11, voiced profound indignation, stating, “The 9/11 Memorial and Museum is a sacred place that honors all the innocent people we lost that day. This is a total outrage, and these fat cats should be ashamed of themselves.” Her words encapsulate the deep sense of betrayal felt by many connected to the tragedy.

The museum’s financial woes are not new; it had already accumulated a $25.2 million deficit within its first year of operation after opening in 2014. This historical pattern of financial instability further exacerbates concerns about the current executive compensation structure and the overall financial health of an institution bearing such immense symbolic weight.

The ongoing controversy calls into question the fundamental purpose and accountability of the 9/11 Memorial & Museum. As the debate over museum executive pay and nonprofit financial transparency continues, stakeholders demand greater public accountability to ensure the institution truly honors its sacred mission without perceived exploitation.