The White House Wants to Make the Smithsonian a Pariah
A renewed threat underscores the museum complex’s isolation—and the limits of Trump’s pressure campaign.
TL;DR
- The Trump administration's Interior Department has urged executive agencies to stop supporting the Smithsonian under its current leadership.
- This action is framed as a response to "radical ideology" and concerns over potential antidiscrimination law violations, echoing criticisms of DEI programs.
- The Smithsonian, an independent institution, faces growing alienation in Washington, with Congress and now the Interior Department joining in the pressure campaign.
- The administration's efforts align with a broader goal to frame U.S. history more positively, similar to changes made at National Park sites.
- The placement of the National Museum of the American Latino in an existing building, rather than on the National Mall, reflects the Smithsonian's "inward turn" and its need to operate independently.