The Trump administration has warned the Smithsonian that it could face federal funding cuts unless it provides internal documents about exhibits and programming and ensures museum narratives align with a White House-approved view before the nation's 250th anniversary. A letter from OMB Director Russell Vought and Domestic Policy Council Director Vince Haley said Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch missed a Sept. 11 deadline and listed specific materials to be produced. The letter cites a "January 13, 2025" compliance date that appears to be a typo, and a Reuters/Ipsos poll shows 66% of Americans oppose presidential control of national cultural institutions.
Trump Administration Threatens Smithsonian With Funding Cuts Over Exhibit Documents
Federal officials from the Trump administration have warned the Smithsonian Institution that its federal funding could be at risk unless the museum complex hands over internal records related to exhibits and programming and aligns its presentations with a White House-approved perspective ahead of the nation's 250th anniversary.
What the Letter Says
In a letter sent Thursday to Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch, Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought and Domestic Policy Council Director Vince Haley say Bunch’s team missed a Sept. 11 deadline to provide documents for White House review and have not guaranteed that all Smithsonian museums will reflect the administration’s preferred framing of American history.
"We wish to be assured that none of the leadership of the Smithsonian museums is confused about the fact that the United States has been among the greatest forces for good in the history of the world," Vought and Haley wrote. "The American people will have no patience for any museum that is diffident about America’s founding or otherwise uncomfortable conveying a positive view of American history, one which is justifiably proud of our country’s accomplishments and record."
Materials Requested
The letter lists a range of materials the administration says remain outstanding and says funding could be reduced unless the Smithsonian complies by the stated deadline. Among the items named are:
- Current wall texts and didactics
- Exhibition proposals and budgets
- Object checklists for upcoming programming
- Internal governance manuals
- Chain-of-command records for content approval
The authors of the letter add that "these are not obscure archival requests," framing the documents as necessary to ensure museums reflect a positive view of U.S. history.
Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought on July 08, 2025 at the White House in Washington, D.C.(Andrew Harnik / Getty Images)
Public Reaction and Context
Public polling suggests many Americans object to presidential control of cultural institutions. A Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted in April, after President Trump issued an executive order addressing "improper" ideology, found that 66% of respondents oppose the president exerting control over leading cultural institutions such as national museums and theaters.
Critics of the administration’s requests say the move amounts to political interference in scholarly and curatorial independence and a threat to historical accuracy, while federal officials say they are seeking accountability for how taxpayer-funded institutions present American history.
Deadline and Next Steps
The letter sets a compliance deadline of "January 13, 2025," a date observers note may be a typographical error given the context. The Smithsonian has not publicly committed to turning over all requested materials as described in the letter, and a standoff over funding and institutional autonomy could prompt legal and political challenges in the coming weeks.
Why it matters: The dispute raises questions about the autonomy of publicly funded cultural institutions, how history is presented to the public, and the proper role of the federal government in overseeing national museums.
