The Trump administration has threatened to withdraw federal support and cooperation from the Smithsonian Institution, citing allegations of the institution promoting a “radical ideology” that undermines American identity. The move marks an escalation in the administration’s ongoing pressure campaign against the renowned museum and research complex.
A letter sent to the Smithsonian’s Board of Regents by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and White House Domestic Policy Council Director Vince Haley, dated August 28, outlined the administration’s grievances. The letter referenced a report titled “Saving America’s Story: How Ideological Capture at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History Erases Our Heritage,” which was prepared by the White House Domestic Policy Council. This report, ordered last year, preceded President Trump’s executive order titled “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,” which accused the Smithsonian of being influenced by a “divisive, race-centered ideology” and demanded the removal of “improper ideology” from its museums.
The administration’s concerns also extend to alleged violations of federal anti-discrimination laws by Smithsonian leadership. The letter claims evidence of a hostile work environment and discriminatory practices in allocating opportunities and benefits based on race and ethnicity. This follows President Trump’s broader crackdown on diversity initiatives, which he has described as discriminatory against white people and men.
In December of the previous year, the Trump administration had previously threatened to withhold funding if the Smithsonian did not conduct a review of its exhibits and programming. These actions are part of a persistent effort by the administration to influence the content and direction of the Smithsonian’s presentations of American history. President Trump himself has publicly expressed dissatisfaction, stating on his social media platform that the institution focused excessively on the negative aspects of American history, such as slavery, rather than celebrating national achievements.
The Smithsonian, a vast complex comprising 21 museums, 14 education and research centers, and the National Zoo, relies significantly on federal funding, with approximately 60-62% of its annual budget derived from federal appropriations. The remaining funding comes from private sources, including donations, endowment income, and business revenue. The institution’s federal budget for the 2024 fiscal year exceeded $1 billion. The administration’s proposed budgets for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 have fallen below this $1 billion threshold, indicating a potential reduction in federal support.
The letter from Burgum and Haley stated that federal agencies “cannot in good conscience continue to support the Smithsonian under current leadership” through means such as loaning artifacts, enabling procurement processes, and making discretionary grants. The administration has requested a meeting with Smithsonian leadership to address these criticisms.
The Smithsonian Institution Secretary, Lonnie Bunch, has previously defended the institution’s work, characterizing a White House report accusing the National Museum of American History of “thinly veiled anti-Americanism” and “extreme political activism” as an unfair representation. Historians and civil rights advocates have widely denounced the Trump administration’s actions, warning that they risk undermining social progress and the acknowledgment of critical phases of U.S. history. They argue that such interventions could set a precedent for political interference in historically independent cultural institutions.
The controversy has also become entangled with the development of new museums. The Smithsonian recently announced that its National Museum of the American Latino would be housed in an existing building, the Arts and Industries Building, rather than a new construction. This decision came after Trump’s proposed 2026 budget sought to eliminate separate funding for a stand-alone Latino museum and integrate its programming across the institution, a move that faced objections from various political groups.
The Smithsonian, established in 1846, operates as a trust instrumentality of the United States, governed by a Board of Regents. While historically it has enjoyed bipartisan support and operated with a degree of autonomy, the current administration’s actions signal a new phase of pressure on the institution to align with its particular views on American history and national identity.
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