The White House Domestic Policy Council has released a 162-page report alleging that the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History (NMAH) has become an institution of "ideological capture" and "extreme political activism" funded by taxpayers. The report, titled "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History," was delivered on America's 250th birthday as a follow-up to President Donald Trump's March 27 executive order on history education.
According to the report, NMAH has moved "away from straightforward historical education and scholarship" and toward what it describes as political activism. The Smithsonian Institution receives more than $1 billion annually in federal taxpayer support, making the institution subject to government oversight under the administration's initiatives to remove political influence from government entities.
What the Right Is Saying
The White House report argues that under current leadership, NMAH "cannot be trusted to tell America's story honestly and in a way that is inspiring, unifying, and worthy of our great republic." The report states the museum has become "subject to institutional capture by a radical, activist ideology that is fundamentally opposed to telling the noble, honest story of the great country we know and love."
The report highlights what it describes as significant omissions in the museum's exhibits. According to the findings, visitors will find no major exhibit dedicated to America's Founding era, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, other Founding Fathers, the Continental Congress, or major moments of the American Revolution. Instead, Founders such as Benjamin Franklin are introduced chiefly through their connection to slavery while their decisive roles in building the Republic are minimized.
The report criticizes the museum's revised mission statement, which replaced phrases about "infinite richness" and "American history" with language about empowering people to create "a more just and compassionate future." It also points to leadership statements describing museum work in terms of "reparations," "restorative history," "decolonization," and "social justice."
What the Left Is Saying
The report quotes NMAH Director Anthea Hartig, who has served since 2019, stating that she views history as a "prime tool of social justice" and described one of her roles as connecting "research and scholarship to activism and advocacy." Museum officials have defended their approach as presenting inclusive history that acknowledges the complexity of America's past.
Supporters of the museum's current direction argue that American history museums should engage with difficult chapters, including slavery, discrimination, and systemic inequality. They contend that a more complete telling of history—including perspectives of marginalized groups—does not diminish patriotism but rather strengthens it by acknowledging the nation's capacity for growth and moral progress.
Defenders note that museums nationwide have increasingly adopted interpretive frameworks that examine historical events through multiple lenses, including social, economic, and cultural factors. They argue this approach reflects contemporary scholarship and serves diverse audiences seeking deeper understanding.
What the Numbers Show
The Smithsonian Institution receives approximately $1 billion annually in federal appropriations, making it one of the largest publicly funded cultural institutions in the world. NMAH is among the most visited museums in the Washington, D.C., area, with millions of domestic and international visitors each year.
Anthea Hartig has served as NMAH director since 2019, appointed during the previous administration. The museum's current strategic plan emphasizes themes of equity, inclusion, and social justice—framing that critics argue represents a departure from traditional patriotic historical presentation.
The White House report is 162 pages in length and was produced by the Domestic Policy Council, a component of the Executive Office of the President that develops and coordinates domestic policy recommendations.
The Bottom Line
This report signals continued scrutiny of cultural institutions under the current administration following Trump's executive order on history education. The findings could lead to changes in museum leadership, exhibit programming, or funding conditions for federally supported cultural organizations.
The Smithsonian has not yet issued a formal response to the allegations. Museum advocates and historians are expected to push back against characterizations of their work as activist, arguing that inclusive historical interpretation is a core professional standard in the museum field. Congressional oversight hearings on federal arts and culture funding may follow as this issue develops.