The Department of the Interior has issued a directive to the Smithsonian’s Board of Regents warning that federal cooperation regarding exhibit funding and curation could be severed. The move stems from the Trump administration’s accusation that museum leadership is engaged in “ideological activism” rather than preserving American cultural heritage neutrally.
In a letter addressed to the governing body, the Interior Department stated that taxpayer funds and interagency support must be used to safeguard the nation’s history, not to promote what it described as a divisive agenda. Officials argued that executive departments could no longer in good conscience continue to facilitate loan processes, procurement, or discretionary grants under current leadership.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and White House domestic policy assistant Vince Haley signed the correspondence, requesting an in-person meeting with regents at their earliest convenience to resolve the discrepancies. The letter referenced a 162-page report released by the White House Domestic Policy Council on July 4, which leveled severe criticisms against the National Museum of American History (NMAH).
The report alleged that the NMAH and its leadership were involved in “extreme political activism,” promoting a “radical view of American history,” and engaging in what it termed “anti-White,” “illegal alien,” and “transgender” activism. The document included photographic evidence of exhibits the White House identified as problematic.
Smithsonian officials have pushed back against these characterizations. Anthea Hartig, director of the NMAH, defended the institution during July congressional hearings, asserting that the museum remains nonpartisan and does not take sides in political debates. She emphasized that their work is guided by standards of scholarship and accuracy, allowing the public to draw their own conclusions from the historical record.
Hartig acknowledged that the Smithsonian takes the administration’s concerns seriously but maintained that the White House report did not accurately reflect the institution’s actual operations.
The Smithsonian Institution, which manages 21 museums, galleries, and the National Zoo, relies on the federal government for approximately $1 billion annually, representing roughly 62 percent of its total budget. The remainder is derived from private contributions, trust funds, and enterprise revenues.
Lonnie Bunch, who has served as Secretary of the Smithsonian since 2019, has consistently reaffirmed the institution’s independence from political influence. In a September 2025 letter to staff, Bunch highlighted conversations with President Donald Trump, stating that institutional independence was “paramount” and that the museum would continue to welcome all Americans and the global community.
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