White House report decries political activism at Smithsonian

A report from the Trump administration signals a need for change at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, the Heritage Foundation said. Congress needs to act following the White House’s 162-page review of the museum, Mike Gonzalez, a senior fellow at The Heritage Foundation, told WORLD Tuesday. Congress or the Smithsonian Institution Board of Regents should fire and replace the museum’s current leadership in light of the report, Gonzalez said.

The White House Domestic Policy Council on July 4 published a report claiming that the history museum engaged in extreme political activism by presenting a radical view of American history. The Smithsonian’s history museum has taught Americans to be embarrassed about America’s heritage, Gonzalez said. The institution should shift to teaching younger generations of Americans to understand their culture, he added.

A spokesperson for the Smithsonian told The Hill that the organization has remained committed to serving the American public with nonpartisan and independent scholarship for more than 180 years.

What activism has the museum engaged in, according to the report? The Smithsonian has promoted anti-white activism, illegal immigrant activism, and transgender activism, according to the White House. The report highlighted an exhibit that profiled a transgender media personality. It also cited a remark from director Anthea Hartig, who previously said she views history as a prime tool of social justice. The report does not recommend specific actions for U.S. leaders, but points out that the institution has received over $1 billion per year in taxpayer funding.

Gonzalez said the museum has depicted the country’s founders only as slaveowners, while diminishing the efforts they took to create the United States and to abolish slavery.

The White House’s review was launched after President Donald Trump issued an executive order in 2025 to remove  inappropriate ideology from Smithsonian institutions.