White House Threatens Smithsonian Funds in Sweeping Content Review
The Trump administration escalated pressure on the Smithsonian this week, threatening to withhold federal funds if it does not submit extensive documentation for a sweeping content review. President Donald Trump earlier this year set out to purge what he called “improper ideology” from the nation’s most prestigious museum system, efforts that are expected to intensify as his administration tries to shape the country’s 250th anniversary celebrations next year.
In a staff email obtained by The Washington Post, sent Friday evening after the funding threat, Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch III said the Smithsonian had sent information to the White House in September and intended to submit more that day. He asserted that "all content, programming and curatorial decisions are made by the Smithsonian."
The previous day, Domestic Policy Council director Vince Haley and White House budget director Russell Vought wrote to Bunch that the Smithsonian’s initial submissions "fell far short of what was requested." Among the solicited documents are current exhibition descriptions, comprehensive America 250 programming files, draft plans for upcoming shows and internal guidelines used in exhibition development. The White House gave the Smithsonian until Jan. 13 to meet the request.
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