{"id":2605677,"date":"2026-05-21T19:58:01","date_gmt":"2026-05-21T23:58:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/six-republicans-join-democrats-in-sinking-womens-history-museum\/"},"modified":"2026-05-21T20:00:15","modified_gmt":"2026-05-22T00:00:15","slug":"six-republicans-join-democrats-in-sinking-womens-history-museum","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/six-republicans-join-democrats-in-sinking-womens-history-museum\/","title":{"rendered":"Six Republicans join Democrats in sinking women&#8217;s history museum"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fsix-republicans-join-democrats-in-sinking-womens-history-museum%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2605677&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A Smithsonian American Women\u2019s History Museum bill sponsored by Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) failed in the House on Thursday, 204-216, after Republicans inserted provisions limiting the museum\u2019s honorees to \u201cbiological women.\u201d House democrats unanimously opposed the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democrats-strip-gop-amendments-in-passing-budget-resolution\/\" title=\"... Strip GOP Amendments in Passing Budget Resolution\">amended version<\/a> and argued it gave President Donald Trump more authority over the museum\u2019s location and construction, while turning the effort into a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/gop-pa-state-senators-remove-lt-gov-from-chamber-after-refusing-to-unseat-contested-dem-out-of-session\/\" title=\"GOP Pa. state senators remove Lt. Gov. from chamber after refusing to unseat contested Dem out of session\">partisan fight<\/a> rather than a nonpolitical festivity of women\u2019s history.<\/p>\n<p>Several GOP lawmakers also broke ranks, including Reps. Keith Self, Josh Brecheen, Michael Cloud, Warren Davidson, Andy Harris, and Tim Burchett, citing concerns that the museum would become \u201cwoke,\u201d that it shouldn\u2019t be on the National Mall, or that the site is \u201cdisappearing.\u201d support had been more bipartisan earlier, but the March amendments-plus debate over the museum\u2019s scope and presidential control-dismantled that coalition.<\/p>\n<p>The legislation would have authorized federal land on the National Mall for the museum and required design and planning approval from the national Capital Planning Commission, which includes presidential appointees. The Democratic Women\u2019s Caucus chair, Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-NM), said the changes violated the museum\u2019s purpose, and Leger Fernandez later said Democrats were pleased the bill failed and hope it returns to its earlier version. The measure also replaced an older pairing with the National Museum of the American Latino.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A handful of House <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/republicans\/\">Republicans<\/a> sounded the death knell on legislation to establish a Smithsonian American Women\u2019s History Museum on Thursday over concerns that the content of the museum would perpetuate \u201cidentity politics\u201d and take up more of the National Mall\u2019s limited space.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The bill, led by Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), failed 204-216, with no Democratic support. Democrats overwhelmingly opposed the legislation over a GOP requirement that only biological <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/women\/\">women<\/a> be honored. Six GOP hard-line defectors \u2014 Reps. Keith Self (R-TX), Josh Brecheen (R-OK), Michael Cloud (R-TX), Warren Davidson (R-OH), Andy Harris (R-MD), and Tim Burchett (R-TN) \u2014 opposed the bill.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/4578913\/house-pulls-iran-war-powers-vote-before-memorial-day-recess\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>House pulls Iran war powers vote ahead of Memorial Day recess<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/4578449\/suozzi-fitzpatrick-trump-anti-weaponization-fund\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Suozzi and Fitzpatrick introduce bill to kill Trump\u2019s $1.776 billion \u2018anti-weaponization\u2019 fund<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4578135\/jim-jordan-splc-jan-6\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Rep. Jim Jordan asks whether Southern Poverty Law Center paid Jan. 6 confidential sources<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A GOP staffer familiar with conservative concerns over the museum told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> that the members feared it would become \u201cwoke.\u201d The staffer also detailed GOP concerns over the museum\u2019s planned location on the National Mall, as well as costs to construct the building.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Burchett told reporters he voted against the legislation over concerns that Democrats would change the scope of the museum when they regain control of Washington to include transgender people.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Self <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/american-families-plan-would-put-21-million-more-people-on-welfare-analysts\/\" title=\"American Families Plan Would Put 21 Million More People On Welfare: Analysts\">expressed similar concerns<\/a>, telling the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> that Republicans \u201cdon\u2019t need to buy into the identity politics; we need great American museums.\u201d He also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-energy-secretary-pick-called-out-by-republicans-for-democrats-awful-record-on-green-jobs-video\/\" title=\"Biden Energy Secretary Pick Called Out By ...ublicans For ...\u2019 Awful Record On \u2018Green Jobs\u2019 (VIDEO)\">expressed concerns<\/a> over the location, saying he didn\u2019t want the museum on the National Mall. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIf they want to build it in some dark corner of D.C., fine, but I don\u2019t want it on the National Mall,\u201d Self said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Harris, meanwhile, said he opposed the construction of the museum because the National Mall is \u201cdisappearing.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhen I was a kid, it used to be all grass,\u201d Harris said. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The bill would have authorized land on the National Mall to be used to build the American Women\u2019s History Museum, as the Smithsonian can not start construction until federal land is transferred for the project. The museum was set to be built across from the National Museum of African American History and Culture on the mall.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Malliotakis expressed disappointment at the floor outcome, telling reporters there was \u201cno reason for Democrats to pull their support over the word \u2018biological.&#8217;\u201d On the GOP defections, the New York lawmaker said she always \u201ckind of knew that there might be one or two\u201d Republicans against the museum, but was disappointed to see the six Republicans vote against the measure.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">House Democrats overwhelmingly rejected the legislation due to provisions added by Republicans that allow only biological women to be exhibited in the museum. They also argued Republicans gave President Donald Trump more authority over the museum\u2019s location and construction. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The final legislation requires the Women\u2019s History Museum\u2019s design and planning to get approval from the National Capital Planning Commission, which includes members appointed by the president.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Democratic Women\u2019s Caucus, chaired by Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-NM), said in a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/democraticwomenscaucus.house.gov\/news\/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=766\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/democraticwomenscaucus.house.gov\/news\/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=766\">statement<\/a> that the <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >amended bill \u201ccompletely flies<\/a> in the face of the museum\u2019s intention \u2014 Republicans traded the representation of women for Trump\u2019s gain and ego. It\u2019s as embarrassing as it is disappointing.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Following the vote, Leger Fernandez told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> that Democrats were \u201cpleased that it failed\u201d because it was a \u201cRepublican-partisan Trumpian version of the women\u2019s museum,\u201d noting she hopes the bill reverts to its previous version.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The bill also decoupled the women\u2019s museum from the National Museum of the American Latino, which had been paired together for years after Trump approved their creation as part of a 2020 appropriations bill. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bipartisan support for the legislation fell apart in March after Republicans amended the bill\u2019s text during a House Administration Committee markup to include the language limiting the museum\u2019s inclusion to only biological women and giving the president increased authority over its location, allowing him to designate an alternative site within 180 days of passage.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During debate on the House floor Thursday, House Administration Committee ranking member Joe Morelle (D-NY) accused Republicans of \u201cneedlessly\u201d politicizing the museum and inserting an \u201cideological poison pill intended to dictate what the museum can and cannot say about women\u2019s history.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Malliotakis rejected Democrats\u2019 criticism of the bill, saying America has \u201cmore than enough women to display in this museum that we shouldn\u2019t be fighting over the need to have non-biological individuals in there.\u201d <\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4578599\/white-house-meeting-gop-leadership-canceled\/\"><strong>WHITE HOUSE MEETING WITH GOP LEADERSHIP CANCELED OVER IMPASSE ON \u2018ANTI-WEAPONIZATION\u2019 FUND<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSo, I don\u2019t understand why we\u2019re pulling bipartisan support from legislation to establish this museum,\u201d Malliotakis added. \u201cAs a matter of fact, let me read, so everybody at home knows exactly what this debate is over. It is over one sentence. \u2018The museum shall be dedicated to preserving, researching, and presenting the history, achievements, and lives experienced by biological women in the United States.\u2019 That\u2019s what the disagreement is about.\u201d <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She continued, \u201cI hate to alert my friends on the other side of the aisle, but a museum dedicated to women\u2019s history should have women in it. That\u2019s it. That\u2019s simple.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>House GOPs blocked the Women\u2019s History Museum bill over \u201cidentity politics\u201d fears<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2912,"featured_media":2605678,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/keith-self-freedom-caucus.webp?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[3667,5894,32405,76274],"class_list":["post-2605677","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-bipartisan","tag-politics","tag-united-states","tag-womens-history"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/keith-self-freedom-caucus.webp?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2605677","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2912"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2605677"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2605677\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2605681,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2605677\/revisions\/2605681"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2605678"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2605677"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2605677"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2605677"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}