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yesterday

White House Review of Smithsonian Widens, With NYC Museum Assessment Deferred

Critics warn the oversight could chill curatorial independence.

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Visitors view exhibits in April at the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
The Washington Monument is reflected in the windows of the National Museum of African American History and Culture in March in Washington.
Cars drive last month by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History in Washington.

Overview

  • Eight Smithsonian museums in Washington are currently undergoing internal reviews under the president's 'Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History' order to promote exceptionalism and remove what the White House calls divisive content.
  • The administration told NY1 that the National Museum of the American Indian in Lower Manhattan will be evaluated later, as attention now includes the museum's Washington location.
  • The Smithsonian said its work is grounded in scholarly excellence and accurate history and added that it will continue to collaborate constructively with the White House, Congress, and its Board of Regents.
  • Concerns cited by experts include potential exhibition shutdowns, questions about federal authority over curatorial decisions dating to the institution’s founding, and the lack of tribal consultation flagged by Native advocates.
  • Supporters of the push, including a new City Journal commentary, argue the review is needed to counter a left-leaning tilt in displays, noting the institution’s substantial federal funding and presence on federal land.