INAH Struggles as Maya Train Eclipses Heritage Crisis

Mexico City — The National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) is grappling with an unprecedented crisis marked by budget deficits, deteriorating archaeological sites, historic monuments, and museums nationwide, as well as a lack of permanent staff and resources for research projects. The newly appointed director, Joel Vázquez Herrera, faces the daunting task of addressing these long-standing issues while steering the institution toward recovery.

A Troubled Institution

During his inauguration on July 16, 2025, Vázquez Herrera outlined a four-pillar plan to revitalize INAH: identifying opportunities for operational improvements, setting priorities, continuing planning for the Altiplano and Northern Mexico train projects and the National Reconstruction Program, and enhancing the dignity of museums and archaeological zones in eastern Mexico State.

Vázquez Herrera, an anthropologist from the Autonomous University of Querétaro, has held various administrative roles within INAH since 2016. His predecessor, Diego Prieto, appointed him director of the INAH Oaxaca Center and later as head of the National Coordination of INAH Centers. Despite lacking published academic works, Prieto praised Vázquez Herrera as a “serene professional” skilled in conflict resolution.

Budget Cuts and Institutional Neglect

For over a year, INAH employees—including archaeologists, anthropologists, historians, and restoration specialists—have protested deteriorating conditions through a National Action Plan. Their 150-page Diagnóstico del INAH (INAH Diagnosis) highlights severe financial neglect, with a deficit exceeding 1.1 billion pesos since 2016 due to repeated budget cuts.

The report details how these cuts have crippled INAH’s ability to fulfill its core responsibilities: registering, researching, and preserving Mexico’s historical monuments, 210 public archaeological zones, 162 museums, and UNESCO World Heritage sites. Basic supplies—such as toilet paper, hand soap, and cleaning fluids—are frequently unavailable, while essential maintenance for museums and archaeological sites remains unfunded.

Deterioration of Key Sites

The consequences of neglect are stark:

• Veracruz: The San Juan de Ulúa Museum has been closed for 18 months, while the Baluarte de Santiago Museum remains shuttered despite an 8.5-million-peso restoration allocation. Archaeological zones like El Tajín, Las Higueras, and Cempoala suffer from severe neglect.
• Jalisco: The Guadalajara Regional Museum operates with dismantled exhibits and lacks basic visitor amenities.
• State of Mexico: At least 21 museums and archaeological sites, including Tenayuca and Texcotzingo, face structural risks due to insufficient maintenance.
• Hidalgo: The Tula Archaeological Zone operates with minimal staff, and its site museum opens only intermittently.

Outsourcing and Labor Shortages

INAH has increasingly relied on outsourcing, with at least 2,229 temporary workers filling roles—from archaeologists to security personnel—despite federal restrictions on subcontracting. Employees criticize this practice for depriving workers of benefits and enabling corruption through direct contract awards.

Suppressed Anthropological Expertise

The Diagnóstico also highlights the suppression of INAH’s anthropological expertise, particularly in assessing the impact of megaprojects on Indigenous communities. The Permanent Anthropological Expert Program, once crucial for legal and environmental cases, has been dismantled. Researchers now conduct peritajes (expert assessments) only as paid consultants, leaving vulnerable communities without institutional support.

Maya Train Controversy

Despite INAH’s financial struggles, the Maya Train project has received preferential treatment. In May 2020, INAH researchers filed a complaint with the Attorney General’s Office (FGR) over the destruction of archaeological and paleontological sites during the construction of Section 7 (Chetumal to Escárcega). To date, the FGR has not acted on the complaint.

A Dire Outlook

As Vázquez Herrera assumes leadership, INAH’s workforce demands urgent reforms to address budget shortfalls, labor instability, and institutional neglect. The future of Mexico’s cultural heritage hinges on whether the new administration can secure funding and restore the institute’s capacity to protect its vast historical legacy.