The White House warned it could withhold federal funding from the Smithsonian unless the institution supplies additional documentation for an expanded content review of eight museums. Officials said the Smithsonian's earlier response was insufficient and tied funding to compliance with Executive Order 14253. Secretary Lonnie Bunch said the Institution is committed to cooperating, cited delays from the recent government shutdown, and offered to meet to provide an update.
White House Threatens To Withhold Smithsonian Funding Over Content-Review Compliance
The White House has warned it may block federal funds to the Smithsonian Institution unless the museum system provides additional documentation required by the Trump administration's expanded content review.
What the White House Requested
In a Thursday letter to Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch, Domestic Policy Council Director Vince Haley and White House Budget Director Russell Vought said the Smithsonian's earlier submission "fell far short of what was requested, and the overwhelming majority of requested items remain outstanding." The letter ties continued disbursement of appropriated funds to compliance with Executive Order 14253, titled 'Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,' and to full cooperation with the review process.
Scope and Timeline
The review, launched in August, examines exhibits and programming at eight Smithsonian museums to assess whether they align with the administration's directive to 'celebrate American exceptionalism, remove divisive or partisan narratives, and restore confidence in our shared cultural institutions.' The White House initially set a Sept. 11 deadline for requested materials but extended it due to 'ongoing staffing transitions' at the Smithsonian. According to the Thursday letter, no new material had been provided since Sept. 18 and significant documentation remains outstanding.
"Funds apportioned for the Smithsonian Institution are only available for use in a manner consistent with Executive Order 14253 ... and the fulfillment of the requests set forth in our August 12, 2025 letter," Haley and Vought wrote.
Smithsonian Response
On Friday, Secretary Lonnie Bunch responded in a letter obtained by The Washington Post, saying the Smithsonian is 'committed to sharing information and data.' Bunch attributed delays to the recent government shutdown and asked the White House to recognize that compiling and reviewing the requested material has been time-consuming and involves many staff and departments across the Institution.
Bunch offered to meet with White House officials to provide an update on internal efforts to review and, where applicable, update content. In an internal email to staff, also obtained by The Washington Post, he said the Smithsonian planned to submit additional information to the White House and reaffirmed that 'all content, programming, and curatorial decisions are made by the Smithsonian.'
Next Steps
The Hill has reached out to Secretary Bunch for copies of the White House letters and for further comment. It remains unclear whether the Smithsonian will provide the outstanding documents in full or whether the White House will move to restrict funding pending compliance.
