{"id":2654704,"date":"2026-09-04T14:47:59","date_gmt":"2026-09-04T18:47:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/white-house-threatens-cutting-federal-support-to-smithsonian\/"},"modified":"2026-09-04T14:49:15","modified_gmt":"2026-09-04T18:49:15","slug":"white-house-threatens-cutting-federal-support-to-smithsonian","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/white-house-threatens-cutting-federal-support-to-smithsonian\/","title":{"rendered":"White House threatens cutting federal support to Smithsonian"},"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\">16<\/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%2Fwhite-house-threatens-cutting-federal-support-to-smithsonian%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=2654704&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 Trump administration considered cutting federal support to the Smithsonian Institution due to allegations of political activism in its portrayal of U.S. history. A letter from Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and White House domestic policy aide Vince Haley questioned whether the Smithsonian might have violated anti-discrimination laws and suggested that support such as artifact loans and grants could be withdrawn. This move followed previous discussions about possibly withholding nearly 62% of the Smithsonian\u2019s funding,totaling around $1 billion.the administration accused the Smithsonian\u2019s National Museum of American History of promoting radical views and activism, prompting the museum to defend its neutrality and mission to present American history in a comprehensive manner. Officials emphasized that taxpayer funds should preserve cultural heritage without advancing ideological agendas, and they sought a meeting with the Smithsonian board to address these concerns.The controversy highlights ongoing debate over the institution\u2019s portrayal of history and its perceived political bias.  <\/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\">The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/trump-administration\/\">Trump administration<\/a> threatened to cut federal support to the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/smithsonian-institution\/\">Smithsonian Institution<\/a>, as debate continues over whether the country\u2019s leading cultural center is guilty of political activism in how it portrays the U.S. and its history. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Executive departments and agencies could cut off relations with the cultural center if Interior Secretary <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/doug-burgum\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"5973\">Doug Burgum <\/a>and White House domestic policy assistant Vince Haley follow through on the option outlined in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.doi.gov\/media\/document\/department-interior-letter-smithsonian-institution\">their letter<\/a> to Smithsonian board members. \u00a0The letter alleged the Smithsonian \u200bmay have violated anti-discrimination laws. It comes after the White House had previously <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/us\/trump-targets-smithsonian-again-says-it-focuses-too-much-how-bad-slavery-was-2025-08-20\/\">suggested<\/a> it could pull $1 billion in federal funding from the Smithsonian, or around 62% of the institution\u2019s funding. <\/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\/white-house\/4714140\/trump-threat-cut-federal-support-smithsonian\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Trump administration threatens to cut federal support to Smithsonian over \u2018ideological activism\u2019<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4713432\/trump-maria-bartiromo-fox-news-exit\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Trump says Maria Bartiromo\u2019s fans \u2018will not be happy\u2019 with Fox News exit<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4712517\/vance-china-play-ball-iran-economy\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Vance says China \u2018willing to play ball\u2019 on strangling Iran\u2019s economy<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThose executive departments and agencies cannot in good conscience continue to support the Smithsonian under current leadership by, for example, loaning artifacts for exhibits, enabling procurement processes and making discretionary grants,\u201d the letter read. <\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAs you are aware, it is the executive branch\u2019s responsibility to ensure that taxpayer funds and the support the Smithsonian receives from executive departments and agencies are used to preserve America\u2019s precious cultural inheritance, not advance a divisive, ideological agenda,\u201d the letter continued.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The two administration officials asked to meet with the board \u201cin person\u201d at their earliest convenience, \u201cto determine how best to address\u201d the issues outlined in the letter, which cited a 162-page <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/abcnews.com\/Politics\/scathing-report-white-house-accuses-smithsonian-presenting-radical\/story?id=134515705\">July 4 report<\/a> published by the White House Domestic Policy Council. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That report indicated damning findings about how the Smithsonian portrays the U.S. and its history, according to the Trump administration. For example, the Smithsonian\u2019s National Museum of American History was accused of \u201canti-White activism,\u201d \u201ctransgender activism,\u201d\u00a0 \u201cextreme political activism,\u201d and presenting \u201ca radical view of American history.\u201d In July, Trump <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4663399\/trump-smithsonian-extreme-political-activism\/\">ordered the museum<\/a> to put up warning signs highlighting the White House report after it concluded the Smithsonian put ideological bias over historical facts. <\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The institution has sought to push back on concerns that it is pushing a progressive narrative in exhibits and displays. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4712037\/judge-ready-extend-block-mail-in-ballot-rule\/\"><strong>JUDGE APPEARS READY TO EXTEND BLOCK ON USPS MAIL-IN BALLOT RULE: \u2018I\u2019M NOT THE FINAL WORD\u2019<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe museum does not take sides in America\u2019s political debates,\u201d Anthea Hartig, the NMAH\u2019s director, said during testimony before a congressional panel in July.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe preserve and document the evidence of American life in all of its breadth, so that the public can encounter the past and draw their own conclusions,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Trump warns of cutting Smithsonian funding over political bias<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3142,"featured_media":2654705,"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\/06\/Donald-Trump-National-Arts-Endowment.webp?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[36513,17565,32640],"class_list":["post-2654704","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-federal-funding","tag-smithsonian","tag-trump-administration"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Donald-Trump-National-Arts-Endowment.webp?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2654704","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\/3142"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2654704"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2654704\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2654708,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2654704\/revisions\/2654708"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2654705"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2654704"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2654704"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2654704"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}