{"id":2633726,"date":"2026-07-22T14:48:02","date_gmt":"2026-07-22T18:48:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/how-woke-smithsonian-bureaucrats-killed-americas-story\/"},"modified":"2026-07-22T14:51:26","modified_gmt":"2026-07-22T18:51:26","slug":"how-woke-smithsonian-bureaucrats-killed-americas-story","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/how-woke-smithsonian-bureaucrats-killed-americas-story\/","title":{"rendered":"How Woke Smithsonian Bureaucrats &#8216;Killed America&#8217;s Story&#8217;"},"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\">14<\/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%2Fhow-woke-smithsonian-bureaucrats-killed-americas-story%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=2633726&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>The article discusses a testimony by Matthew Spalding, dean of Hillsdale College\u2019s Van Andel Graduate School of government, before the House Oversight Committee, addressing concerns about leftist bias within the Smithsonian Institution, particularly the National Museum of American History. Spalding criticized the museum for shifting away from presenting an accurate and balanced account of American history, instead promoting a narrative focused on systemic oppression and societal flaws.He highlighted a report from the White House titled \u201cSaving America\u2019s Story,\u201d which criticizes exhibits that emphasize perceived problems and ongoing debates over American values and identity. Spalding emphasized the importance of fostering patriotism rooted in a respectful understanding of America\u2019s principles, rather than fostering self-loathing. He urged the Smithsonian\u2019s Board of regents to address these ideological issues, noting that Congress funds a important portion of the Smithsonian\u2019s budget and has influence over its direction. The article underscores the need for truthful historical education that promotes love for America without ignoring its flaws, contrasting this approach with what Spalding describes as the distorted, ideologically motivated \u201chistory\u201d currently presented.  <\/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<div class=\"article-body body-md bdr-top-black pt-30\">\n<div class=\"row justify-content-center\">\n<div class=\"col-12\">\n<figure class=\"article-thumbnail mb-30 mb-sm-60\">\n<div class=\"article-thumbnail-caption d-flex align-items-center justify-content-md-end label-xs mt-15\">         <i class=\"mdi mdi-camera me-10\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>         <span class=\"visually-hidden\">Image Credit<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=961Mclohmi8\">GOP Oversight\/youtube<\/a>       <\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"article-share text-center article-share-simple\">\n<h5 class=\"label-sm mb-10\">Share<\/h5>\n<ul class=\"article-share-list list-unstyled m-0 p-0\">\n<li class=\"article-share-facebook m-0\">       <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2026\/07\/22\/how-woke-smithsonian-bureaucrats-killed-americas-story\/\" target=\"_blank\">         <i class=\"mdi mdi-facebook\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>         <span class=\"visually-hidden\">Share Article on Facebook<\/span>       <\/a>     <\/li>\n<li class=\"article-share-twitter m-0\">       <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=How Woke Smithsonian Bureaucrats \u2018Killed America\u2019s Story\u2019&#038;url=https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2026\/07\/22\/how-woke-smithsonian-bureaucrats-killed-americas-story\/\" target=\"_blank\">         <i class=\"mdi mdi-twitter\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>         <span class=\"visually-hidden\">Share Article on Twitter<\/span>       <\/a>     <\/li>\n<li class=\"article-share-truth-social m-0\">       <a href=\"https:\/\/truthsocial.com\/share?title=How Woke Smithsonian Bureaucrats \u2018Killed America\u2019s Story\u2019&#038;url=https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2026\/07\/22\/how-woke-smithsonian-bureaucrats-killed-americas-story\/\" target=\"_blank\">         <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" fill=\"currentColor\" style=\"width:36px;height:auto;\" viewbox=\"0 0 92 93\"><path d=\"M69.444 55.716H56.772v10.37h12.672zM64.487 37.795V27.32H38.666v38.664h13.18v-28.19zM21.05 27.321h12.653v10.471H21.051z\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/><\/svg>         <span class=\"visually-hidden\">Share Article on Truth Social<\/span>       <\/a>     <\/li>\n<li class=\"article-share-link m-0\">       <button data-clipboard-text=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2026\/07\/22\/how-woke-smithsonian-bureaucrats-killed-americas-story\/\" data-tooltip-content=\"Copied!\" class=\"clip tooltip\">         <i class=\"mdi mdi-link-variant\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>         <span class=\"visually-hidden\">Copy Article Link<\/span>       <\/button>     <\/li>\n<li class=\"article-share-email m-0\">       <a href=\"mailto:?subject=How Woke Smithsonian Bureaucrats \u2018Killed America\u2019s Story\u2019&#038;body=\"The National Museum of American History is no longer the nation&#039;s museum of American history,\" Spalding said.%20https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2026\/07\/22\/how-woke-smithsonian-bureaucrats-killed-americas-story\/\" target=\"_blank\">         <i class=\"mdi mdi-email\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>         <span class=\"visually-hidden\">Share Article via Email<\/span>       <\/a>     <\/li>\n<li class=\"article-share-email m-0\"><span class=\"printfriendly pf-button  pf-alignleft\">                     <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/thefederalist.com\/#\" rel=\"nofollow\" onclick=\"window.print(); pfTrackEvent(&#039;How Woke Smithsonian Bureaucrats \u2018Killed America\u2019s Story\u2019&#039;); return false;\" title=\"Printer Friendly, PDF &#038; Email\">                     <span id=\"printfriendly-text2\" class=\"pf-button-text\"><i class=\"mdi mdi-printer\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><\/span>                     <\/a>                 <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<div class=\"pf-content\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The dean of Hillsdale College\u2019s Van Andel Graduate School of Government testified before the House Oversight Committee July 21 about the Smithsonian\u2019s leftist bias. Matthew Spalding spoke to the committee about the importance of preserving accurate history in the hearing titled <a href=\"https:\/\/oversight.house.gov\/hearing\/rewriting-american-history-examining-the-smithsonians-efforts-to-reshape-the-past\/\">\u201cRewriting American History: Examining The Smithsonian\u2019s Efforts To Reshape The Past.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Calling the National Museum of American History (NMAH) one of the country\u2019s \u201cgreatest treasures,\u201d Spalding criticized the people in charge of the museum for pushing a leftist agenda in testimony <a href=\"https:\/\/oversight.house.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Spalding-Written-Testimony.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">titled<\/a> \u201cWho Killed America\u2019s Story\u201d? <\/p>\n<div id=\"fdrlst__b89e9-302620486\" class=\"d-flex justify-content-center fdrlst__b89e9-paragraph-2 fdrlst__b89e9-entity-placement\">\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-1463670073398-0\" class=\"mb-30\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe National Museum of American History is no longer the nation\u2019s museum of American history,\u201d Spalding said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Spalding referenced the White House\u2019s \u201cSaving America\u2019s Story\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Smithsonian-Report-Saving-Americas-Story.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">report<\/a>, which detailed the ideological capture of the Smithsonian Institution in more than 150 pages. The report contains photographic proof describing NMAH\u2019s failure to present an accurate version of American history to attendees.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of the report\u2019s key findings was that the museum featured exhibits that focused more on the perceived problems in American history. \u201cAmerican Democracy: A Great Leap of Faith,\u201d one of the exhibits the report criticizes, says that Americans \u201cinherited a belief in social hierarchy and institutions that perpetuated inequality.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The exhibit also framed America\u2019s national identity as an \u201congoing debate\u201d between Americans that still persists to this day. \u201c[I]f there were to be common beliefs and a national narrative that expressed the values of the nation, what should be included?\u201d the exhibit asks, according to the report.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In Spalding\u2019s testimony, he said the Smithsonian should instill a healthy love for America through its historical exhibits:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A healthy attachment to this country is neither blind to its flaws nor fanatical in believing that America is the source of all good. Nevertheless, each generation should be equipped with a knowledge of America\u2019s principles and history, a reverence for their liberties, and a reflective love of their country. That patriotism must be strong enough and unsentimental enough to coexist with criticism, dissent, disappointment, and opposition. But it is love all the same.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\n<\/blockquote>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Spalding told The Federalist that the Smithsonian\u2019s Board of Regents ought to take this issue seriously. He noted that although Congress pays <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/entertainment\/art\/2025\/03\/28\/smithsonian-institution-donald-trump-funding\/\">around two-thirds<\/a> of the Smithsonian\u2019s budget, the board has enormous leverage to create change.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHow you teach these ideas at a public institution is crucial for how you form citizens,\u201d Spalding told The Federalist. \u201cIt teaches self-loathing, and that\u2019s a problem.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, Spalding said, there is a way to teach accurate American history without teaching self-loathing. The ideologically motivated \u201chistory\u201d pushed by the Smithsonian is not history at all, Spalding told The Federalist. \u201cHistory has been driven out by a postmodern idea about systemic oppression, and as a result, they\u2019ve kind of dropped the whole story.\u201d<\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\">\n<div class=\"article-author-description fst-italic\">      Skye Graham is an intern at The Federalist. She is a senior History major at Hillsdale College and serves as the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/exclusive-meet-the-kids-book-character-challenging-the-lefts-pro-illegal-immigration-narrative\/\" title=\"Exclusive: New Kids&#039; Book Targets The Left&#039;s Anti-ICE Narrative\">assistant features editor<\/a> for the Hillsdale Collegian.<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"article-author mt-30 mt-sm-60 pt-30 bdr-top-bold-black\">\n<div class=\"row g-0 align-items-center\">\n<div class=\"col-12 col-md-6\">\n<div class=\"article-author-profile d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center justify-content-md-start\">\n<div class=\"article-author-details\">\n<div class=\"label-md\">Skye Graham<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"col-12 col-md-6 d-flex justify-content-center justify-content-md-end mt-15 mt-md-0\">        <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/author\/skyegraham\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">More Articles<\/a>     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"article-tags no-print bdr-top-black mt-30 mt-sm-60 pt-15 pt-md-45\">\n<ul class=\"list-unstyled d-flex flex-wrap align-items-center mb-0 mx-n10 p-0\">\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/american-history\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">American history<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/hillsdale\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">Hillsdale<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/history\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">History<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/house-oversight-committee\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">House Oversight Committee<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/matthew-spalding\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">Matthew Spalding<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/national-museum-of-american-history\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">National Museum of American History<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/smithsonian\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">Smithsonian<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/smithsonian-institution\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">Smithsonian Institution<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/smithsonian-museum\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">Smithsonian Museum<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Smithsonian Bias: Spalding Warns of Distorted History<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4302,"featured_media":2633727,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Screenshot-2026-07-21-at-2.15.13-PM-e1784657850133.png","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[546,33651],"tags":[6371,52371,4919,5894,17565],"class_list":["post-2633726","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-federalist","category-the-western-journal","tag-censorship","tag-culture-2","tag-history","tag-politics","tag-smithsonian"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Screenshot-2026-07-21-at-2.15.13-PM-e1784657850133.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2633726","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\/4302"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2633726"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2633726\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2633730,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2633726\/revisions\/2633730"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2633727"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2633726"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2633726"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2633726"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}