White House Intensifies Funding Threats Against Smithsonian
58Dec. 24, 2025
The Trump administration, whichthis past August announced that it would reviewcurrent and forthcoming Smithsonian exhibitions “to assess tone, historical framing and alignment with American ideals,” has reiterated its threat to pull funding if the Smithsonian does not comply. Although the Smithsonian provided the White House with documentation in September, Domestic Policy Council director Vince Haley and White House budget director Russell Vought on December 18sent a letterto Smithsonian secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III complaining that what was sent “fell far short of what was requested,” according to aWashington Postreport. Among the documents demanded from the Smithsonian are descriptions of current exhibitions; programming files related to the celebration of the United States’ 250th anniversary; and draft plans for future shows and internal guidelines regarding exhibition development.
In their December 18 missive, Haley and Vought demanded Bunch turn over the requested documentation no later than December 30, reminding him that funding was only “available for use in a manner consistent with Executive Order 14253 ‘Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History.’” Bunch in a letter of December 19 replied that the Smithsonian is “committed to sharing information and data” and pointed to extenuating circumstances regarding the delay, among them the recent forty-three-day-long government shutdown, the longest in US history.
Georgetown University history professor James Millward, a cofounder and leader of the volunteer-run Citizen Historians for the Smithsonian, which attempts to document everything on display at the institution, told the Post he believes the request for digital files means “they’re looking for trigger words,” related to the administrations attempts to quash diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
Established in 1846, the Smithsonian Institution operates independent of the US government, though it receives about 62 percent of its funding via Congress. The Trump administration has increasingly sought to involve itself in the nonpartisan organization’s business, with Trump claiming on social media earlier this year to have fired National Portrait Gallery director Kim Sajet for being “a highly partisan person, and a strong supporter of DEI.” The Smithsonian’s board moved swiftly to affirm its autonomy, but Sajet resigned shortly thereafter.