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The Trump administration is warning that federal funding for the Smithsonian Institution could be withheld unless the museum system provides additional documentation requested as part of a content review.
According to The Hill, Domestic Policy Council Director Vince Haley and White House budget director Russell Vought sent a letter Thursday to Smithsonian Institution Secretary Lonnie Bunch outlining materials they said have not yet been submitted.
In the letter, the officials said the Smithsonian’s earlier response “fell far short of what was requested, and the overwhelming majority of requested items remain outstanding,” according to the report.
The administration began reviewing exhibits and related materials at eight Smithsonian museums earlier this summer. The review is intended to determine whether the content aligns with an executive order issued by President Donald Trump directing federal cultural institutions “to celebrate American exceptionalism, remove divisive or partisan narratives, and restore confidence in our shared cultural institutions,” the outlet reported.
The letter states that continued federal funding for Smithsonian museums is contingent on compliance with both the executive order and the administration’s review process. It emphasizes that failure to provide the requested documentation could affect future appropriations.
The Smithsonian Institution, which operates museums and research centers in Washington and beyond, receives a significant portion of its funding from Congress. The institution has not publicly commented on the letter or the potential funding consequences.
The review reflects a broader effort by the Trump administration to reshape how federally supported cultural institutions present American history and national identity.
As RSBN previously reported, President Trump has repeatedly criticized “woke” ideology on college campuses and in museums.
“We are not going to allow this to happen, and I have instructed my attorneys to go through the Museums, and start the exact same process that has been done with Colleges and Universities where tremendous progress has been made,” Trump said. “This Country cannot be WOKE, because WOKE IS BROKE. We have the “HOTTEST” Country in the World, and we want people to talk about it, including in our Museums.”