The director of the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, Anthea M. Hartig, faced sharp criticism Tuesday during a congressional hearing over a recent White House report that accused the museum of promoting a “radical activist ideology” and undermining trust in American institutions. The hearing, held by the House Committee on Government Efficiency, Oversight, and Reform, highlighted ongoing tensions between the Smithsonian Institution and the executive branch regarding how American history is presented.
The White House report, released on July 4, contended that the museum failed to adequately honor the nation’s founders and disproportionately emphasized subjects such as slavery, immigration, and transgender issues in its exhibitions. Representative Tim Burchett, a Republican from Tennessee and chairman of the subcommittee conducting the hearing, criticized specific exhibits, including “Entertainment Nation,” which explores entertainment history, and “Girlhood (It’s Complicated),” which addresses gender identity. Burchett questioned the appropriateness of certain content for children, citing images related to bondage and transgender individuals.
South Carolina Republican Representative Nancy Mace pressed Ms. Hartig on gender issues, asking her to define the number of genders and when she learned her own, sparking a measured but firm response from the museum director. Hartig noted that the “Girlhood” exhibition was not designed for children and included parental advisories for sensitive topics.
Ms. Hartig challenged the White House report’s characterization of the Smithsonian’s work, stating that the institution does not seek to erase history but to broaden the narrative by including voices and perspectives previously overlooked. “When historians talk about reframing a traditional narrative, we don’t mean erasing it,” Hartig said, emphasizing the museum’s commitment to reflecting the full complexity of American history.
The dispute dates back to March 2025, when then-President Donald Trump signed an executive order titled “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,” asserting that the Smithsonian undermined the country's founding principles by highlighting negative aspects. The order directed Vice President JD Vance to collaborate with budget officials to restrict Smithsonian funding for exhibits seen as divisive or inconsistent with federal policies.
Among those testifying alongside Hartig were Mike Gonzalez, a Heritage Foundation senior fellow critical of the Smithsonian, and historians David Blight of Yale University and Matthew Spalding of Hillsdale College. Spalding, affiliated with Trump’s 1776 Commission, argued that the Smithsonian promotes “national self-loathing” by focusing on systemic oppression. Conversely, Blight described the White House report as politically motivated, asserting that historians seek to engage citizens with a fuller understanding of history rather than promote “woke” narratives.
Republican lawmakers expressed concern that the museum emphasizes America's faults over its achievements. Representative Lauren Boebert of Colorado pressed whether any version of the founding merits celebration or if the narrative presented is fundamentally flawed. Democrats on the panel, including Representative Jasmine Crockett of Texas, defended the Smithsonian’s approach, criticizing the hearing as a veiled effort to suppress truthful accounts of the country’s history.
Ms. Hartig pointed to museum artifacts underscoring American ideals, such as the desk where Thomas Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence, and reiterated the institution’s dedication to honoring the nation’s symbols while acknowledging its historical shortcomings. “Telling our story fully is a form of respect for the American people,” she said.
The hearing marked the first of two this week examining the Smithsonian’s operations amid concerns over political interference. Lawmakers like Representative Melanie Stansbury of New Mexico introduced legislation aimed at safeguarding the independence of cultural institutions, denouncing the White House report as a politically motivated “witch hunt.”
Despite calls from the executive branch to reduce Smithsonian funding, Congress has thus far maintained its budget, with federal sources comprising about 62 percent of the institution’s roughly $1 billion annual budget. The ongoing debate underscores the broader national conflict over historical interpretation and the role of public institutions in shaping collective memory.