White House Report Accuses Smithsonian of Ideological Bias
1 verified7 unconfirmed
A 162-page White House report released last weekend accuses the Smithsonian Institution of “ideological capture” and abandoning historical scholarship for political activism. The report claims the institution no longer treats the American story as a shared national inheritance but rather as a political instrument to divide citizens. Both sources confirm the existence and core allegations of the report, though they do not provide joint details on its specific examples or the Smithsonian’s response. The report has drawn reactions from members of Congress who sit on the Smithsonian Board of Regents, but no bipartisan legislative action has been taken.
What’s verified
A 162-page White House report accused the Smithsonian Institution of ideological capture and abandoning historical scholarship for political activism.
Not yet confirmed
The report includes 28 examples of alleged political activism, according to one source.
Nearly half of those examples reportedly involve immigration-related issues.
The report claimed the Smithsonian partnered with the Southern Poverty Law Center, which a Justice Department indictment alleged had encouraged hate groups; the SPLC has pleaded not guilty.
The report asserted so-called “anti-white bias” and “anti-woman activism” at the Smithsonian.
President Donald Trump issued an executive order in March directing the removal of “divisive, race-centered ideology” from the Smithsonian.
A pair of bills to authorize construction of women’s and Latino museums on the National Mall have stalled in Congress.
Several citizen seats on the Smithsonian Board of Regents remain vacant after their terms expired.
Misconceptions
One source noted that the White House report incorrectly stated that the Southern Poverty Law Center had been “found” to be manufacturing racism, when in fact it has only been indicted and has pleaded not guilty.
Key figures
Lonnie G. Bunch III, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution
Catherine Cortez Masto, U.S. Senator and Smithsonian Board of Regents member
Gary Peters, U.S. Senator and Smithsonian Board of Regents member
Alex Padilla, U.S. Senator
Jeff Merkley, U.S. Senator
Carlos Giménez, U.S. Representative and Smithsonian Board of Regents member
Keith Self, U.S. Representative
Tim Burchett, U.S. Representative
Jim Banks, U.S. Senator
Nicole Malliotakis, U.S. Representative
Donald Trump, President of the United States
Todd Blanche, acting Attorney General
Kash Patel, FBI Director
Bryan Fair, interim CEO of the Southern Poverty Law Center
Sources: washingtonmonthly.com, rollcall.com
