The Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency held a hearing titled “Rewriting American History: Examining the Smithsonian’s Efforts to Reshape the Past” in Washington, according to a July 21 statement. The session focused on the National Museum of American History and broader Smithsonian Institution programming, with members questioning whether taxpayer-funded initiatives promote divisive or factually inaccurate interpretations of U.S. history.
During the hearing, Dr. Anthea Hartig, Director of the National Museum of American History, said, “Our work is governed by the Smithsonian standards of scholarship, accuracy, independence and nonpartisanship. The museum does not take sides in America’s political debates. We 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.” However, committee members referenced a White House Domestic Policy Council report released July 4, alleging that museum leadership is advancing an activist agenda which reframes U.S. history primarily as a narrative of oppression.
Mike Gonzalez, Senior Fellow at The Heritage Foundation, testified that “Some curator of one of the most exalted institutions had decided to use morally loaded, academic key word to address a visitor to the museum… Teaching lessons about American wickedness is now the mission of the Smithsonian… Secretary Lonnie Bunch III [and] Anthea Hartig… have commandeered the world’s largest museum complex and admit that they intend to use it as a tool of societal transformation.” Dr. Matthew Spalding from Hillsdale College added: “A National Museum of American History should tell the American national story… Americans’ history belongs neither to liberals nor conservatives. It belongs…to the American people.”
Members also questioned Dr. Hartig regarding land acknowledgements and content appropriateness for children within certain exhibits. Subcommittee Chairman Tim Burchett asked if she would consider donating personal property to Native tribes mentioned in acknowledgments; Dr. Hartig responded, “I don’t believe that’s pertinent to the conversation.” When pressed about adult-themed exhibit content accessible by children, she stated, “It’s complicated,” referring specifically to a temporary exhibit closed since 2010.
Further discussion involved Rep. Brandon Gill questioning racially charged materials and references within NMAH exhibits as well as internal toolkits allegedly characterizing objectivity or politeness as traits associated with white supremacy culture; Dr. Hartig replied that such toolkits were not developed by her team but may have been used as references under her leadership.
Rep. Brian Jack asked Mike Gonzalez about ideological shifts within cultural institutions like those alleged at NMAH; Gonzalez said leadership has articulated intentions for societal transformation through historical interpretation at these museums.