Legislation for Women’s History Museum Fails Amid Controversy

Bipartisan lawmakers recently voted against a bill aimed at advancing the construction of a new women’s history museum in Washington, D.C. The rejection arose from disputes over “identity politics,” particularly with House Democrats voicing their concerns regarding the proposed limitation that would recognize only biological women in the museum.

Democrats largely opposed the measure due to a provision from the Republican side which stated that only biological women would be acknowledged by the museum. This resulted in the bill failing with a vote count of 204–216, as a small number of Republicans sided with Democrats against it. The bill was intended to secure a location on the National Mall for what would become the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum.

The proposed legislation would have authorized the use of federal land on the National Mall for the museum, which the Smithsonian is unable to begin constructing until the official transfer of the site occurs. The museum was planned to be located across from the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Representative Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.) defended the bill against Democratic criticism, asserting that there are already “more than enough women to display in this museum” without engaging in disputes over the inclusion of non-biological individuals.

“I don’t understand why we’re pulling bipartisan support from legislation to establish this museum,” Malliotakis remarked. “This disagreement boils down to one sentence: ‘The museum shall be dedicated to preserving, researching and presenting the history, achievements and lives experienced by biological women in the United States.’”

She further stated, “I hate to inform my colleagues across the aisle, but a museum about women’s history should feature women. It’s that straightforward.”

The bill specifically prohibited the depiction of “any biological male as female,” reinforcing language from an executive order issued by President Donald Trump in 2025 that prevented the inclusion of transgender individuals in the museum.

“The Museum shall be dedicated to preserving, researching, and presenting the history, achievements and lived experiences of biological women in the United States,” read the amended measure from Representative Mary Miller (R-Ill.).

“The addition of the word biological made them all run for the hills,” House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) noted during a news conference. “If that’s controversial within the Democratic Party, we’re in serious trouble. The party that claims to support women is insisting the museum should include biological men.”

In a recent tweet, Malliotakis expressed her concerns, questioning whether her bill, which had potential presidential backing, would pass or falter due to demands for transgender exhibits.

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