The White House holds a razor over 62% of the Smithsonian’s federal funding, demanding proof that America’s museums celebrate triumphs instead of shame before the 250th birthday bash explodes in 2026.
Executive Order Sparks Smithsonian Showdown
March 2025 Executive Order 14253 directs Vice President JD Vance to halt funding for Smithsonian content that divides Americans by race or portrays the nation as oppressive. President Trump signed the order titled “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History.” It mandates solemn, uplifting exhibits at federal sites. The Smithsonian, reliant on Congress for 62% of its budget, faces direct executive leverage. This move builds on the January 2025 closures of all DEI offices across its museums.
August 12, 2025, the Domestic Policy Council Director, Vince Haley, and the Budget Director, Russell Vought, demanded files from eight history and art museums within 75 days. Targets included programming, staff details, collections, and America 250 plans. Trump amplified pressure via social media, blasting slavery-focused exhibits and national flaws. White House memo flagged 26 issues, like Amy Sherald’s “Trans Forming Liberty” portrait and Hugo Crosthwaite’s Fauci cartoons.
September 18, 2025, Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III submitted partial documents. Staffing transitions prompted a deadline extension. White House viewed this as inadequate. December 18, 2025, follow-up letter reset the clock to January 13, 2026. Non-compliance risks complete withholding of federal appropriations. The institution altered operations after the DEI purge, but complete files remain outstanding.
Key Players Drive Funding Ultimatum
President Trump ignited the probe with posts claiming credit for National Portrait Gallery Director Kim Sajet’s resignation, tied to her DEI support. Artist Amy Sherald withdrew her exhibition amid scrutiny. Haley and Vought co-signed both letters to enforce demands. Vance wields veto power over funding under the executive order. Bunch oversees Smithsonian responses, balancing federal dependence with curatorial freedom.
Power tilts heavily toward the executive branch. The Smithsonian’s quasi-independent status crumbles under budget threats. Trump leverages public pressure to align museums with his base’s values. Conservatives cheer this pushback against perceived leftist bias in public institutions. Facts support the administration’s leverage: federal funds dominate the budget, justifying oversight for taxpayer dollars.
America 250 Hangs in the Balance
America 250 marks the U.S. semiquincentennial on July 4, 2026. Smithsonian leads national commemorations. White House demands ensure celebrations highlight exceptionalism, not “diffidence about America’s founding.” Short-term funding cuts could cancel exhibits and trigger layoffs. Long-term, museums shift toward positive narratives, chilling critical views on slavery or flaws.
Politically, this bolsters Trump’s anti-woke stance ahead of the 2026 midterms. Socially, it polarizes historical discourse. Economically, over $1 billion annually teeters. Precedents from Trump’s first term, such as the 2020 “Whiteness” graphics backlash, echo here. Critics decry overreach, but common sense affirms taxpayer-funded museums should foster pride, not division—aligning with conservative principles of unity and achievement.
Hyperallergic reports artist withdrawals as evidence of influence. Substack analyst Gretchen Jennings calls the letter menacing, focused on 250th plans. Executive order text prioritizes uplifting monuments over critical theory. Sources confirm facts across timelines and demands. Minor discrepancy: Sajet resigned independently, per reports, despite Trump’s claim. Smithsonian response status unresolved as deadline looms.
Sources:
https://hyperallergic.com/white-house-renews-threats-to-smithsonian-institution/
https://gretchenjennings.substack.com/p/the-white-house-menaces-the-smithsonian