Tag: museums

IN CHARTS: A visual breakdown of the Smithsonian’s billion-dollar taxpayer-funded budget

The Smithsonian has relied on more than $1 billion a year in taxpayer funding in recent years, even as its leadership and exhibits face mounting scrutiny over DEI priorities and ideological portrayals of American history.

The sprawling institution oversees 21 museums, the National Zoo and nearly 157 million objects and specimens, making it the world’s largest museum, education and research complex. President Donald Trump’s proposed budget reductions have made its federal funding a central pressure point in the administration’s broader effort to reshape the taxpayer-supported institution.

Since the White House released a July 2026 report accusing the Smithsonian Institution of advancing DEI and left-wing agendas, Fox News Digital has documented multiple examples. Most recently, the Smithsonian’s America 250 exhibit featured roughly three times as many items highlighting liberal figures and causes as conservative ones, prompting criticism that it presented an ideologically imbalanced account of American history.

Other examples included the Smithsonian’s promotion of a museum training guide that linked concepts such as objectivity and merit to “white dominant culture,” a program the institution later apologized for after public backlash.

Meanwhile, Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch III has faced scrutiny after saying DEI “must be at the center” of museum institutions, while receiving more than $4.4 million in salary and benefits from 2020 through 2024.

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Historian Visits Smithsonian After a Decade, Finds ‘A Completely Different Place’ That Puts Activism Ahead of History

The Smithsonian Institution, particularly the National Museum of American History (NMAH ) and related exhibits, has been accused of downplaying or negatively reframing aspects of American history in favor of a more critical, race- and social-justice-focused narrative.

Dr. Jody Edward Ginn, a historian and museum professional, made his first visit in a decade and was troubled by what he found.

According to Fox News, after reading the administration’s Domestic Policy Council report accusing the Smithsonian and the NMAH of failing to present history “in a way that is inspiring, unifying, and worthy of our great republic,” he decided to travel from Texas to see for himself. He said he found it to be “a completely different place than when I was there in 2012.”

Per Fox News:

“Its mission is clearly exactly what they changed it to be. It is a museum for activism. They use history, but that’s kind of the problem. You know, scholars of history, and I don’t consider these folks scholars anymore. They’re activists.”

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“From the moment I walked in, it’s a very different experience,” Ginn said. “Now, I wasn’t totally shocked by this because I’ve been watching this evolution in my field for over a decade.”

As he made his way through the exhibits, Ginn said the institution seeks to “specifically direct” visitors “to action” rather than give them the information to “make their own decisions.”

“It became this goal, their own stated goal, to turn museums from institutions of education, of public education, into institutions to encourage activism, which could also be said to indoctrinate.”

Ginn also noted that he found “factually incorrect information” and, in some exhibits, what the institution left out was just as misleading.

“The biggest problem is in what they leave out.”

NMAH’s shift toward wokeness and activism has been a hot topic in DC. During a House Oversight hearing, Rep. Brandon Gill (R-TX) grilled NMAH’s Director, Dr. Anthea Hartig, over the institution’s anti-white agenda and efforts to rewrite American history.

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Leftist Smithsonian Exhibit Frames Embattled Anthony Fauci in Heroic Terms

Aspects of Dr. Anthony Fauci’s career are prominently displayed at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, the news coming as he declined to answer questions during a congressional hearing about the Chinese coronavirus pandemic.

The former leader of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) is featured in the museum’s “Entertainment Nation” exhibit, highlighting how the the mask-wearing doctor threw the first pitch for Major League Baseball in 2020 while there were no fans in the stands, Fox News reported Thursday.

The museum’s placard described Fauci in heroic terms.

“Amidst a cacophony of misinformation and denial, advice from Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s leading epidemiologist, urged leagues to make decisions about resuming play ‘based on scientific evidence and public health judgment.’ When baseball became the first league to retake the field, Fauci threw the ceremonial opening pitch — wearing a facemask in a stadium empty of fans,” it read.

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Smithsonian Smackdown: Trump orders signs outside American History museum warning of woke exhibits

President Donald Trump escalated his battle against wokeness at the Smithsonian Institution on Friday, ordering his administration to place signs outside the National Museum of American History to warn visitors that some of its exhibits have been made “inaccurate.”

The signs would even redirect potential visitors to places where American history is more accurately presented, according to the order, though the order did not give examples of what those locations and resources would be.

“Because the museum has failed to appropriately honor the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence during this 250th anniversary year of the founding of our country,” the order reads, government agencies “shall install temporary exhibits or signage on N.P.S.-maintained sidewalks, walkways, and land used by the public that corrects inaccurate information presented in the museum.”

The order comes after the White House Domestic Policy Council released a 162-page report on the museum, accusing its director of using the museum as a “political instrument” to accomplish her own ideological goals at the expense of the museum’s original mission.

The museum was first approved by Congress in 1955 to tell the national story of the United States, to “place before” visitors “a stimulating permanent exposition that commemorates our heritage of freedom and highlights the basic elements of our way of life.”

The museum’s director, Anthea Hartig, defended the museum’s changes to American history, stating in a congressional hearing this week that the museum was representing history in all of its complexity, according to the New York Times.

“When historians talk about reframing a traditional narrative, we don’t mean erasing it,” she said in her testimony. “We mean adding the evidence, the voices, the objects that earlier tellings left out so that more Americans can see themselves reflected in the national story.”

House Republicans, however, accused her of hijacking history with woke ideology to suggest even Mickey Mouse was racist.

The order also follows Trump’s March 27, 2025, executive order aimed at purging “revisionist” and ideological materials from U.S. history references and exhibits at federally funded museums and sites. 

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Smithsonian history museum director stumbles over basic questions on sex: ‘I’m not sure’

Smithsonian National Museum of American History Director Anthea Hartig appeared stumped by a basic question on sex and gender from Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C.

During a House hearing on alleged “extreme political activism” on display at the Smithsonian, Mace asked Hartig, “Do you believe that men can become women?”

Hartig hesitated before answering, “Ma’am, as the director of the museum, that’s not relevant in this case.”

“It’s very relevant,” Mace shot back. Motioning to images of Smithsonian displays featuring drag queens, Mace continued, “You’ve got men dressed up as women, and you have them on displays in front of kids. Do you think men can become women? Yes or no?”

Hartig did not answer the question but instead began to discuss one of the drag queen displays pictured on the board behind Mace. The congresswoman interrupted her.

“What is a woman, Dr. Hartig?” Mace demanded.

Hartig began to answer that “as a director and as a historian, it’s not my-” before Mace cut her off again, saying, “You sexualized the American History Museum. So, this is a fair question. What is a woman?”

Looking down for a moment, Hartig responded, “We strive to represent and not categorize all Americans.”

“OK, I have another question for you,” Mace continued. “There’s a glossary at the museum that informs visitors that while American culture traditionally recognizes two genders, other countries recognize three or more.”

“So, enlighten me this morning: how many genders are there?” Mace asked.

Hartig hesitated again before asking, “Ma’am, which glossary?”

“This is a display, and it has a glossary that says other countries recognize three or more genders. So, I would like you to enlighten me today; you’re the director of the American History Museum, who’s sexualized things in front of kids. I want to know, I want to ask you, how many genders are there?”

Finally, Hartig responded, “I’m not sure which glossary you’re speaking,” before adding, “I’m happy to get back to you about that glossary.”

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Rep. Brandon Gill Completely Humiliates Smithsonian Director with This Brilliant Line of Questioning While Catching Her Pushing Insane Anti-White Agenda

One of the Republican Party’s rising stars left the director of the Smithsonian stumbling by utilizing a brilliant line of questioning that exposed her organization’s anti-white agenda.

During Tuesday’s House Oversight hearing, Rep. Brandon Gill (R-TX) tangled with Dr. Anthea Hartig, Director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, over a mass toolkit her organization had been promoting that characterizes so many cultural manners and icons as white supremacy.

These include politeness, objectivity, and even Mickey Mouse.

Hartig stumbled, froze, and stammered at various points during her confrontation with Gill when confronted with this toolkit. Making it even worse, Gill used important yet easy-to-answer questions that an honest person could nail.

But not Hartig. What follows is nearly four minutes of complete destruction.

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Mark Carney can’t keep gifted NATO handgun because of Liberal handgun freeze

Prime Minister Mark Carney was unable to keep a personalized handgun presented to him at the NATO summit because of the Liberal government’s handgun transfer freeze, forcing the gift to be surrendered to the RCMP.

Discussing the incident, Sheila Gunn Reid and Tamara Ugolini said the engraved pistol highlighted what they described as an ironic consequence of Canada’s firearms laws.

“How embarrassing that they can’t even allow Carney to take this gift home,” Gunn Reid said. “That’s the state of affairs for firearms ownership in this country.”

The handgun was engraved specifically for Carney but could not legally be transferred into his possession under the federal handgun freeze.

“He can’t even make it non-fireable and bring it home as a souvenir,” Gunn Reid said. “It’s because it’s a firearm being transferred to him… it has to be immediately turned over to the RCMP for destruction.”

There have been reports that officials were considering placing the firearm in a museum as a workaround to accept it and bring it into the country.

Contrast this with the experience of ordinary Canadians, where the gun laws force historic family firearms to be surrendered and destroyed rather than put in a museum.

How can Mark Carney’s gift go to a museum when ordinary Canadians’ family history cannot be preserved in that way?

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House Democrats Unanimously Vote Against Women’s History Museum… Can You Guess Why?

House Democrats unanimously voted this week against legislation to build a new women’s history museum on the National Mall.

The reason was an amendment that limited the exhibits to biological women to the exclusion of transgender figures.

The museum failed 204-216 as House Democrats hoped that they could still secure a museum including transgender figures once they retake power after the midterm elections.

The amendment drafted by Rep. Mary Miller, R-Ill., states in part, “The Museum shall be dedicated to preserving, researching, and presenting the history, achievements and lived experiences of biological women in the United States.”

It further mandated that the museum would not depict “any biological male as female.”

The vote was notable after the release of the DNC “autopsy” report that flagged how transgender and identity politics contributed to the defeat in the last election.

The report specifically noted the success of Trump’s “Kamala is for they/them, President Trump is for you” ad.

The report noted that “If the Vice President would not change her position — and she did not — then there was nothing which would have worked as a response.”

The fact that this was a unanimous vote among Democratic members is particularly notable and suggests that transgender issues will remain a rallying point for the Democrats.

Democratic members called the exclusion a “poison pill” amendment.

In the meantime, transgender issues continue to occupy the courts with a major decision by the Colorado Supreme Court this week that ordered Colorado’s largest provider of gender-affirming care for young people to resume medical treatments like puberty blockers and hormone therapy.

That puts  Children’s Hospital Colorado in direct conflict with the Department of Health and Human Services, which has moved to block federal support for institutions providing such care.

Justice William Wood III wrote that “We conclude that the actual immediate and irreparable harm to petitioners outweighs the speculative harm CHC may face if the federal government further acts against it.”

In his dissent, Justice Brian Boatright said that this was hardly a speculative matter, but “a decision driven by the direct threat to the viability of the entire hospital.”

Here is the opinion: Boe v. Child.’s Hosp. Colo.

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Trump Admin Sets Its Sights on the Smithsonian For Pushing Divisive Political Narratives

The White House has taken aim at the Smithsonian Institution, accusing it of using public money to advance partisan views.

At the center of the controversy is the Entertainment Nation exhibit at the National Museum of American History.

The exhibit includes interpretations of pop culture that frame elements of American history as imperialist, racist, or violent.

One panel claims early American entertainment was marked by “extraordinary violence.”

Another says Mickey Mouse’s appearance was influenced by “blackface minstrelsy.”

The Lone Ranger is framed as symbolic of U.S. imperialism, while Indiana Jones and Ronald Reagan are described in terms that raise questions about American self-image.

Even pop singer Selena is featured in a section focused on identity politics.

White House official Lindsey Halligan told Fox News Digital, “The Smithsonian Institution should present history in a way that is accurate, balanced, and consistent with the values that make the United States of America exceptional.”

She confirmed an audit of content across Smithsonian museums is already underway.

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‘Predatory Indoctrination’: Parents Outraged Over Museum Of Natural History’s New Video Aimed At Kids

Although the Trump administration has made significant inroads toward eradicating the taxpayer-supported spread of transgender ideology across America’s youth, some examples of the insidious practice still remain.

Most recently, New York’s Museum of Natural History began drawing harsh criticism from parents and others who oppose an eight-minute video being played on a loop inside the museum.

“Dragfox,” a stop-motion-animated production, tells the story of a fox who takes a “magical journey” with a cross-dressing boy wearing his sister’s dress.

The thinly veiled pro-trans message wasn’t lost on a slew of parents and children’s advocates, as the New York Post reported:

De-transitioner Oli London rejected the film’s sentiment that transitioning magically brings happiness.

“Children should not be exposed to gender ideology in any format,” said London, who’s 35 and detransitioned two years after beginning the grueling process.

He railed against the animated film aimed at “targeting” youngsters by including a character with a “cute, friendly-looking fox . . . encouraging them to become confused with their gender identity and become trans. Children should be off-limits from radical gender ideology.”

Parents accused the museum of straying from its mission to “discover, interpret, and disseminate —through scientific research and education — knowledge about human cultures, the natural world, and the universe.”

Instead of understanding science, they’re “ignoring” it by “presenting something that’s ideological as scientific fact,” said Natalya Murakhaver, an UWS mom-of-two and documentary filmmaker, who blasted the screening as “predatory behavior for young, impressionable children.

“I think we have activists running the museum who are trying to portray their idea of reality as fact, when it’s actually ideological,” she added.

But “Dragfox” director, Lisa Ott, exulted during a 2024 BAFTA award acceptance speech that the short “celebrates drag queens and trans joy.” The singular goal of the film was to “have one little queer kid or trans child out there feel a little bit less alone.”

The festival is a way to “step beyond your comfort zone to listen, feel, and see yourself reflected in the stories presented on screen,” insisted Jacqueline Handy, the AMNH Director of Public Programs.

It’s more insidious than that, said downtown mom of two, Jacqueline Toboroff. Showing a loaded film aimed at kids is “predatory indoctrination” meant to sow chaos, she said.

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