---
kind: "section"
citation: "10 U.S.C. § 8617A"
title: "10"
title_heading: "Armed Forces"
number: "8617A"
heading: "United States Navy Museum System"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/10/8617A"
units:
  - "Subtitle C — Navy and Marine Corps"
  - "Part IV — General Administration"
  - "Chapter 861 — Secretary of the Navy: Miscellaneous Powers and Duties"
---

# §8617A. United States Navy Museum System

- (a) **In General.—** The [Secretary](/usc/10/8720.md?p=4) of the [Navy](/usc/10/8001.md?p=a-1) shall support a system of official [Navy](/usc/10/8001.md?p=a-1) museums, which shall collectively be known as the “[United States](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-1) [Navy](/usc/10/8001.md?p=a-1) Museum System”. Such system shall include the following museums:
  - (1) The National Museum of the [United States](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-1) [Navy](/usc/10/8001.md?p=a-1).
  - (2) The [United States](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-1) Naval Academy Museum.
  - (3) The Naval War College Museum.
  - (4) The Submarine Force Museum.
  - (5) The National Naval Aviation Museum.
  - (6) The USS Constitution Naval History and Heritage Command, Detachment Boston.
  - (7) The [United States](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-1) [Navy](/usc/10/8001.md?p=a-1) Seabee Museum.
  - (8) The Puget Sound [Navy](/usc/10/8001.md?p=a-1) Museum.
  - (9) The Naval Undersea Museum.
  - (10) The National Museum of the American Sailor.
  - (11) The Hampton Roads Naval Museum.
  - (12) Such other museums as may be designated by the [Secretary](/usc/10/8720.md?p=4) of the [Navy](/usc/10/8001.md?p=a-1) that meet criteria established under [subsection (b)](#b).
- (b) **Criteria for Designation.—** The [Secretary](/usc/10/8720.md?p=4) of the [Navy](/usc/10/8001.md?p=a-1) shall establish criteria for designating museums other than museums identified in paragraphs [(1)](#a-1) through [(11)](#a-11) of subsection (a) for inclusion in the [United States](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-1) [Navy](/usc/10/8001.md?p=a-1) Museum System. Such criteria shall include—
  - (1) historical significance to naval operations, technology, or personnel;
  - (2) public accessibility and educational outreach programs; and
  - (3) alignment with the mission of the [Navy](/usc/10/8001.md?p=a-1) to preserve its heritage.
- (c) **Criteria for Closure.—** The [Secretary](/usc/10/8720.md?p=4) of the [Navy](/usc/10/8001.md?p=a-1) shall establish criteria for the closure of museums within the [United States](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-1) [Navy](/usc/10/8001.md?p=a-1) Museum System. No museum within such system may be closed until—
  - (1) the [Secretary](/usc/10/8720.md?p=4) of the [Navy](/usc/10/8001.md?p=a-1) submits to the Committees on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Senate notice that [includes](/usc/10/101.md?p=g-4)—
    - (A) a plan for the preservation, storage, or alternate display of historical collections contained in the museum;
    - (B) how any issues relating to museum personnel will be resolved;
    - (C) an identification of any efforts to maintain museum operations through public-private partnerships; and
    - (D) an analysis of the cost to transport, consolidate, and preserve the historical collections contained in the museum; and
  - (2) a period of 90 days has elapsed after the date on which such notice is received by such committees.
- (d) **Funding and Support.—** Consistent with applicable law, the [Secretary](/usc/10/8720.md?p=4) of the [Navy](/usc/10/8001.md?p=a-1) may enter into partnerships, including with nonprofit organizations, to enhance the financial sustainability and public engagement of the museums in the [United States](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-1) Museum System.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 119–60, div. A, title III, § 375, Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 839.)