Republicans cry “woke” at Smithsonian

WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - Republican lawmakers on Tuesday accused the Smithsonian Institution of promoting what they called a “woke ideology,” escalating a broader effort by the Trump administration to assert control over the nation’s cultural and historical institutions.

Hearing draws sharp exchanges

The hearing centered on editorial control over how American history is presented across the Smithsonian’s 21 museums, 14 research centers, and the National Zoo — which collectively house more than 156 million artifacts.

Rep. Tim Burchett said the institution had been compromised. “I feel like it’s become infected by a woke ideology that seeped into public displays, educational materials and planning documents,” he said.

A representative from the Heritage Foundation, a group behind Project 2025, called for a leadership overhaul. “You need to clean house and relieve all Smithsonian leadership of their duties,” said Mike Gonzalez. He also criticized the yet-to-be-built Latino and women’s museums, saying they “will no doubt become two more incubators of anti-American grievances.”

Administration report and presidential criticism

The hearing followed a report by the Trump administration accusing the Smithsonian of “extreme political activism.” Previously, the president criticized the museums for focusing too much on “how bad slavery was.”

Historians and lawmakers push back

Yale University professor David Blight condemned the administration’s report. “The recent report by the White House Domestic Policy Council is nothing less than a declaration of political war on the historian’s profession, as well as on the freedom and curiosity of anyone who reads or visits museums,” Blight said.

Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-NM) offered a pointed defense of the institution. “Let me be clear. The Smithsonian Institution does not belong to the president. It does not belong to a political party. It belongs to the American people,” she said.

The Smithsonian is governed by a Board of Regents.