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.
The Trump administration is attempting to isolate the Smithsonian, the world's largest museum complex, by alleging the institution's leadership exhibits "radical ideology" and serves to "weaken our shared American identity" and "erase our heritage." In a letter to the Smithsonian board of regents on August 28, the Department of Interior suggested the Smithsonian cease cooperation on routine matters, such as loaning items for exhibits and awarding discretionary grants.
The letter was sent days before the regents placed the National Museum of the American Latino in a vacant building, avoiding Congress and reflecting the Smithsonian's growing alienation in the capital. The White House has repeatedly threatened the institution, but now, more parties have joined the effort, including Republicans in Congress and the Interior Department.
The Interior letter accuses the Smithsonian of potentially violating federal antidiscrimination laws, a common tactic on the right to criticize diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. Despite the letter's language, a White House official stated that agencies will find it difficult to cooperate with the Smithsonian due to "disturbing evidence" uncovered, not because of a direct allegation of unlawful discrimination.
The administration's rhetoric is particularly striking coming from the National Park Service, which has been subject to contested efforts to remove wall texts, including information on slavery, climate change, and Native Americans.
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