Trump Administration Aims to Revitalize Smithsonian’s Original Mission

The Trump administration is taking steps to refocus the Smithsonian Institution on its primary goal of safeguarding the cultural heritage of the United States, rather than promoting what they see as a “divisive, ideological agenda.” This shift was communicated in a recent letter to the Board of Regents of the museum system.

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum sent the letter on a Friday, notifying the board that his department intends to implement President Donald Trump’s recent executive order, aptly named “Restoring Trust in the Smithsonian Institution.”

The Smithsonian, which receives over $1 billion annually from public funding, is facing a proposed funding cut of 11 percent, bringing its budget down to $961.3 million for the fiscal year 2027. This would mark the lowest level of taxpayer support the institution has seen since 2020.

This funding proposal surfaced following a review by the White House of the Smithsonian’s programs, particularly critiquing its focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). The resultant report pointed to instances where various Smithsonian museums appeared to emphasize themes of oppression at the expense of celebrating American achievements.

Lonnie Bunch III, the Secretary of the Smithsonian, who earned over $4.4 million in salary and benefits from 2020 to 2024, has been vocal in asserting that DEI should be central to the institution’s mission.

Trump remarked on social media last week, expressing his concerns about the museums across the nation, which he described as the last vestiges of what he calls “WOKE” ideology. He criticized the Smithsonian for its focus on the darker aspects of American history and the lack of celebration of success and hope for the future.

He added that he would not allow this approach to continue, directing his legal team to initiate a review of the museums akin to the reforms seen in colleges and universities. Trump emphasized that the nation cannot afford to be “WOKE,” claiming that such a perspective undermines American identity and pride.

Burgum’s letter reiterated the administration’s commitment to uphold taxpayer interests, stating, “It is the executive branch’s responsibility to ensure that taxpayer funds… are used to preserve America’s precious cultural inheritance.” He highlighted that the Smithsonian was established as a trust by Congress, tasked with being the nation’s key custodian of American history and culture, and thus has a duty to represent the American story in an accurate and coherent manner.

He reminded the Regents that their mission is bolstered by the considerable financial support they receive from taxpayers. Burgum referenced the White House’s report that identified a troubling trend within leadership decisions, including the revision of the National Museum of American History’s mission statement. This trend, according to him, involved a shift from a balanced portrayal of the American narrative toward advancing a specific ideological viewpoint.

The report also revealed that a recent plan instructs museum staff to connect discussions to contemporary issues such as race, gender, environmental change, and economic inequality, suggesting that failing to do so would neglect their commitment to relevance.

Additionally, the findings noted efforts to reinterpret aspects of immigration, advising educators to avoid terms like “illegal immigrant,” while some exhibits seemed to endorse controversial views on gender identity and sports participation.

Burgum concluded that the problematic ideology could potentially erode a unified American identity and heritage. He appealingly urged the Board of Regents to convene with him and his team soon to discuss how best to address the matters raised in his letter and the accompanying report.

In closing, he emphasized that the Smithsonian is a property of the American public, meant to depict “the inspiring story of the United States” for both current and future generations. Burgum’s letter ended with an assurance of the administration’s commitment to collaborate with the Smithsonian in restoring public trust in this prominent institution.