White House report accuses Smithsonian leadership of ideological bias
The White House released a 162-page report on July 4 alleging that leaders of the Smithsonian Institution, and of its National Museum of American History in particular, have adopted a “radical, activist ideology” and cannot be trusted to present the country’s history. The document says the museum “fails in the basic task” of illuminating American heritage.
The report follows a March 2025 executive order, “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,” directing federal officials to counter what the administration calls negative “historical revisions.” A Smithsonian spokesperson said the institution has served the public with “nonpartisan and independent scholarship” for more than 180 years and remains committed to doing so. The Smithsonian is led by Secretary Lonnie Bunch, its first Black secretary; the American History museum is directed by Anthea Hartig.
A report carries no direct legal force, but it sets the rationale for the levers the administration does control. The Smithsonian depends heavily on federal appropriations and its governing Board of Regents includes members of Congress and presidential appointees, so the practical significance lies in whether the document is used to justify budget conditions, leadership changes or exhibit reviews.