White House threatens Smithsonian funding over museum exhibits and content
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
The White House is increasing pressure on the Smithsonian Institution, demanding extensive internal records and warning that congressionally authorized funds could be withheld if the museum system fails to meet a mid-January deadline. Bloomberg report.
In a letter sent Thursday to Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch, Domestic Policy Council Director Vince Haley and Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought said the administration wanted assurances that Smithsonian leadership is prepared to present American history in a positive light as the country approaches its 250th anniversary in 2026.
“We want to make sure that none of the directors of the Smithsonian museums are confused about the fact that the United States is one of the greatest forces for good in world history,” the letter said, according to Bloomberg. It was said.
“The American people will have no patience for any museum that is coy about America’s founding or uncomfortable presenting a positive perspective on American history.”
TRUMP SAYS AMERICAN HISTORY WILL NOT BE DISPLAYED IN A ‘WOKED MANNER’ AT THE SMITHSONIAN
President Donald Trump has ordered a review of the Smithsonian’s contents ahead of the 250th birthday of America’s founding. (Getty)
The report stated that the White House set a Jan. 13 deadline for the Smithsonian to turn over the requested records, and warned that if the institution did not comply, the administration could use the Office of Management and Budget’s appropriations authority to delay or halt federal funding.
It marks an intensification of the dispute that began earlier this year, when President Donald Trump signed an executive order accusing the Smithsonian of operating “under the influence of a divisive, race-centered ideology” and ordering the institution to eliminate exhibits or programs that “degrade common American values.”
The White House letter accused the Smithsonian of moving slowly on previous requests for information and providing only cursory details about programming, particularly regarding future exhibitions planned between 2026 and 2029, according to Bloomberg.
The administration said it wanted detailed programs and budgets as part of the review.
MICHELLE OBAMA PORTRAITIST’S TRANS STATUE OF LIBERTY EXHIBITION WAS TAKEN AFTER VANCE’S PRINTS
The comprehensive review initially covers eight museums, most of which are affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
The Smithsonian manages some of the nation’s most important museums, including the National Museum of American History, the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the National Air and Space Museum, and the National Museum of the American Indian.
Established by Congress in 1846, the Smithsonian is governed by a Board of Trustees composed of members of Congress and the chief justice of the Supreme Court.
The funding warning builds on the Trump administration’s previous criticism of Smithsonian exhibit content. In a July 5 Fox News Digital exclusive, White House official Lindsey Halligan accused the Smithsonian of using taxpayer money to promote “one-sided, divisive political narratives,” specifically pointing to content in the National Museum of American History’s Entertainment Nation exhibit.
LIZ PEEK: TRUMP IS DECREASING WAR ON WOKE — AND THIS BELOVED MUSEUM IS IN HIM’S CANCER
Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History in Washington, DC (Kevin Carter/Getty Images)
“American taxpayers should not fund institutions that undermine our country or promote one-sided, divisive political rhetoric,” Halligan told Fox News Digital at the time. He said exhibits should present history “accurately, balancedly, and in a manner consistent with the values that make the United States exceptional.”
The Smithsonian later said it was “committed to ongoing and rigorous scholarship” and was reviewing exhibit content to ensure it met institutional standards.
Bloomberg reported that the latest letter framed the records request as part of the administration’s preparations for the sesquicentennial celebrations, which Trump has signaled he wants to use to emphasize patriotism and a unifying national narrative.
CLICK TO DOWNLOAD FOX NEWS APPLICATION
The Smithsonian receives roughly two-thirds of its annual budget from federal grants, according to a previous report from Fox News Digital.
The White House and Smithsonian did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Fox News Digital.
