NEW YORK — The president and CEO of the 9/11 Memorial & Museum is facing mounting criticism after defending what families of victims and first responders describe as bloated and disrespectful executive salaries at one of the nation’s most sacred sites.
In an email to the museum’s trustees obtained by The New York Post, CEO Elizabeth Hillman claimed that pay for top executives “lags well behind that of peer institutions” and cited unspecified compensation studies to justify recent increases.
But Hillman’s defense comes as the nonprofit reported nearly $20 million in losses in 2024, even while charging $36 admission fees and receiving at least $4.5 million in taxpayer funds. According to IRS filings, Hillman earned $856,216 in total compensation in 2024 — a 63% increase in just two years. Four other executives made between $432,000 and $486,000.
Families Outraged
For many families of 9/11 victims, the revelations feel like a betrayal. “Why are you guys making so much money off dead people?” one insider told The Post.
Rob Johann, an FDNY lieutenant who responded on 9/11, called the salaries “outrageous.” In a letter to the editor, he wrote: “The 9/11 Memorial and Museum is a sacred place that honors all the innocent people we lost that day. These fat cats should be ashamed of themselves.”
Rosemary Cain, whose firefighter son died in the attacks, said families were never consulted on key decisions — including the storage of unidentified remains in the museum’s lowest level. “I find it sickening that humanity is kept in storage in the basement of the museum,” she said.
The Remains Dispute
More than 1,100 victims remain unidentified, and their remains are housed in a facility at the World Trade Center site overseen by the city’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Access is through the museum — which charges admission to the public.
Families have long asked for the remains to be placed above ground, where loved ones could visit without entering a commercialized museum. Glenn Corbett, a John Jay College fire science professor and advisor to firefighter families, said: “The families were never asked where the remains were to be placed. Our survey of members found 94% opposed placing them in the museum.”
Hillman, in her email, suggested that “a diverse array of victims’ family members” supported the decision, but critics call that misleading.
A History of Financial Struggles
The 9/11 Museum opened in 2014 with a mission to honor victims, educate visitors, and preserve history. But it has faced financial instability since its inception, running a $25.2 million deficit in its first year.
Despite steady tourist traffic, the museum has remained dependent on taxpayer funding, private donations, and corporate sponsorships. Families say high executive salaries undercut the nonprofit’s mission and credibility.
Critics Question Priorities
For many, Hillman’s explanation — that executives are underpaid compared to unnamed peers — rang hollow. “Do these people have no conscience at all?” asked Corbett.
Others worry that the controversy undermines public trust in an institution meant to memorialize tragedy rather than profit from it. “It leaves a sour taste in my mouth,” one source close to the foundation said.
Looking Ahead
As the backlash grows, pressure is mounting for the museum’s board of trustees to reassess its compensation practices and to listen more closely to the families of victims.
For survivors and loved ones, the issue is not just financial — it is about respect. “It is high time to have the purpose of a museum fulfilled without a certain few breaking the budget,” Cain said.
The museum, built on the footprint of the World Trade Center, remains a powerful symbol of loss and resilience. But for many, its leadership now stands accused of betraying that legacy through questionable financial choices.