Trump administration pressures Smithsonian with funding threat

The Trump administration has escalated its pressure on the Smithsonian Institution, warning that federal agencies may withdraw their support unless the museum complex addresses its concerns. In a letter to the Smithsonian's governing board, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and White House Domestic Policy Council Director Vince Haley said agencies could not "in good conscience" continue backing the institution under its current leadership. The letter specifically cited potential withdrawal of artifact loans, procurement assistance, and discretionary grants.

The move is the latest in a series of attacks by President Donald Trump on the Smithsonian during his second term. Trump has previously criticized the institution for what he described as an excessive focus on the harsh realities of slavery in American history. The administration has also ordered new signage outside the National Museum of American History to reflect its criticisms and has launched a review of certain museums.

The letter, dated Friday, also alleged that the Smithsonian may have violated anti-discrimination laws through its diversity practices. It requested a meeting between Smithsonian leadership and administration officials to resolve the issues. The Smithsonian, which operates 21 museums and galleries along with the National Zoo, had no immediate comment.

Historians and civil rights advocates have condemned the administration's actions, warning that they risk reversing social progress and undermining the acknowledgment of critical periods in U.S. history. Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch has previously rejected a White House report that accused the National Museum of American History of "thinly veiled anti-Americanism" and "extreme political activism," calling the characterization unfair.

The administration's broader crackdown on diversity initiatives across government and the private sector has drawn criticism from civil rights groups, who argue such programs address historical inequities faced by minorities, women, and the LGBT community.