White House Escalates Pressure on Smithsonian Over Federal Funding and Content Review

The White House has intensified its oversight of the Smithsonian Institution, issuing a stern warning that federal funding could be withheld if the organization fails to comply with a sweeping “patriotic” content review. In a letter dated December 18, 2025, officials from the Domestic Policy Council and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) informed Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III that previous document submissions regarding museum exhibits “fell far short” of administration requirements.

A Mandate for “American Exceptionalism”

The friction stems from Executive Order 14253, titled “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,” signed by President Trump earlier this year. The order directs federal agencies and cultural institutions to prioritize narratives that celebrate American exceptionalism while purging what the administration describes as “improper ideology” or “woke” content.

White House budget director Russell Vought and Domestic Policy Council director Vince Haley have specifically targeted eight major museums, including the National Museum of American History and the National Museum of African American History and Culture. The administration’s critique centers on exhibits that highlight historical failures, such as slavery and the displacement of Indigenous peoples, arguing these focus excessively on oppression rather than national achievement.

The Funding Ultimatum

The Smithsonian receives approximately 62% of its annual budget from federal appropriations. The White House has now set a firm deadline of January 13, 2026, for the institution to turn over:

• Detailed internal budgets and project schedules through 2029.
• Comprehensive programming files for the upcoming “America 250” celebrations.
• Draft concepts and descriptive placards for current and future exhibitions.

The administration asserts its authority to use the OMB’s apportionment power to delay or withhold funds if the Smithsonian does not begin implementing “content corrections.” This includes replacing language the White House deems “divisive” with “unifying” and “historically accurate” descriptions.

Institutional Autonomy vs. Political Oversight

Secretary Lonnie Bunch has defended the institution’s independence, stating in a staff email that “all content, programming, and curatorial decisions are made by the Smithsonian.” While Bunch expressed a commitment to transparency, he noted that the vast scale of the request has been significantly time-consuming for staff.

Critics, including House Democrats and various museum associations, have labeled the move as an attempt to “whitewash” history. Representative Joe Morelle (D-NY) argued that the administration is trying to twist the Smithsonian’s mission to fit a partisan narrative. Conversely, White House senior associate Lindsey Halligan stated the review is about “preserving trust” and ensuring taxpayer dollars support exhibits that instill national pride.

As the 250th anniversary of the United States approaches, the standoff highlights a fundamental debate over who controls the narrative of the American story: the scholars and curators who research it, or the political leaders who fund its display.

Sources

• White House Letter to the Smithsonian: Internal Review of Exhibitions
• Washington Post: White House threatens Smithsonian funds in content review
• The Guardian: Trump administration to review 19 Smithsonian museums
• PBS News: Trump executive order to force changes at Smithsonian
• Congress.gov: Potential Effects of Executive Order 14253 on Smithsonian