House Republicans Attack Smithsonian for Upholding Inclusive History
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During a subcommittee hearing, GOP lawmakers launched baseless attacks on the National Museum of American History’s director, parroting a partisan White House report that condemned the museum’s efforts to tell the stories of marginalized communities. Democrats defended the Smithsonian’s mission to present a truthful and comprehensive account of American history.
House Republicans on the Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency aggressively questioned Anthea Hartig, director of the National Museum of American History, accusing the Smithsonian of presenting history as a struggle between 'oppressors and the oppressed' and of promoting a so-called 'woke' agenda. This orchestrated hearing, led by Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.), followed a 162-page White House Domestic Policy Council report, released on July 4, which outrageously claimed the museum was 'subject to institutional capture by a radical, activist ideology.' The report attacked the museum’s honest coverage of the nation’s founding, its inclusive approach to the 250th anniversary, and its willingness to address vital topics such as immigration and transgender rights.
Republican members fixated on specific exhibitions, including one on gender identity, and irresponsibly suggested that the museum was misusing taxpayer funds to advance a so-called 'divisive' racial narrative. Hartig firmly responded that the Smithsonian remains a nonpartisan institution, reiterating the museum’s commitment to representing all Americans, especially those historically excluded from the narrative.
Democratic lawmakers forcefully rebutted the White House report, exposing the administration’s attempt to undermine public trust in museums and rewrite the historical record to suit a reactionary agenda. They cited public polling that consistently ranks museums among the most trusted institutions in the country, highlighting the public’s desire for honest and inclusive history.
The hearing laid bare the deep partisan divide, with Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.) passionately defending the National Museum of African American History and Culture against what he described as right-wing attempts to erase Black history. Neither the Smithsonian nor Rep. Burchett’s office responded to requests for comment. Hartig is scheduled to testify again before the House Administration Committee, as the fight for historical truth continues.