Laurence des Cars, the president and director of the Louvre Museum, has resigned less than five months after a $100 million jewel heist shook the institution and drew scrutiny to its security systems. The details were reported by The New York Times.
Des Cars submitted her resignation to French President Emmanuel Macron, who appointed her in 2021. Macron’s office said he accepted the move as an act of responsibility. Further adding that the museum needs stability and renewed direction to complete major security and modernization plans.
Her departure came a day before she was scheduled to testify before the French Parliament about security failures linked to the October theft. That incident placed the world’s largest museum under intense political and public pressure.
The jewel heist intensified scrutiny of the Louvre’s leadership
The theft, valued at more than $100 million, took place in broad daylight. According to investigators, the burglars used a truck-mounted electric ladder to gain access and were ultimately captured on security cameras, contradicting initial claims that a key camera had been pointed the wrong way.
The incident became a flashpoint for broader criticism of the museum’s infrastructure and oversight. In the months surrounding the heist, the Louvre faced water damage to antique books, a gallery closure due to structural weaknesses, labor strikes, and a ticket fraud scheme that cost nearly $12 million. Separate attention has also focused on a Trump first lady claim.
Des Cars had also championed an ambitious refurbishment plan known as “Louvre — New Renaissance,” a $1.3 billion project intended to modernize the museum. The proposal included relocating the Mona Lisa to its own room with a separate entrance, a change that drew debate over both cost and priorities.
Although Des Cars reportedly offered to resign immediately after the theft, Culture Minister Rachida Dati initially rejected the offer. Reports later surfaced that Dati considered appointing a senior civil servant to help oversee management reforms, though that plan did not materialize.
In a post-heist interview, Des Cars acknowledged the reputational damage caused by the burglary while defending her tenure. She said she had long warned about security weaknesses and worked to secure funding for renovations, while also accepting partial responsibility for the failures.
A subsequent audit by France’s top auditing body, the Cour des Comptes, criticized the Louvre for lacking a comprehensive security master plan and for operating with aging systems. The report described the jewel theft as a deafening alarm signal and questioned whether funds earmarked for the renovation project should instead prioritize security improvements. That debate has unfolded amid a Discord verification software backlash.
Macron, who unveiled the “New Renaissance” initiative in front of the Mona Lisa, now faces uncertainty over a cultural project he had hoped would define part of his legacy as he enters the final year of his second term.
Published: Feb 25, 2026 06:30 am