On Thursday, four members of the United States’ House of Representatives sent a letter to Vice President J.D. Vance urging him to reject an overhaul of the Smithsonian Institution.
The letter was sent in response to President Donald Trump‘s “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History” order, issued on March 27, to eliminate “divisive” and “anti-American” content from the Smithsonian’s exhibitions and to restore “monuments, memorials, statues, markers” that have been removed from public spaces since 2020.
“We write to you as shared custodians of one of the nation’s crown jewels—and with great concern over its future,” the letter begins.
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It highlights bipartisan efforts spanning decades that led to the establishment of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the American Women’s History Museum, and the National Museum of the American Latino.
“Today, [the Smithsonian] is the envy of cultural institutions across the planet—not because of ideological edicts or interference from politicians, but because of the world-renowned experts who independently curate the Smithsonian’s collections, programs, exhibits, and activities,” it continues. “It is this curatorial independence that is the hallmark of credible museums and cultural institutions.”
In light of the executive order, however, it explains “we now stand at the brink of seeing the Smithsonian at its worst: shaped solely by the views and ideology of one individual as a means of expanding his political power.”
The letter was authored by four Democratic members—Joseph Morelle (New York), Terri Sewell (Alabama), Norma Torres (California), and Julie Johnson (Texas)—of the 12-person Committee on House Administration, which oversees the Smithsonian. The committee also oversees the Library of Congress and United States Botanic Garden, as well as the Capitol’s art, books, and manuscript collections.
Established by Congress in 1846, the Smithsonian is a federal institution with 21 total museums, 14 libraries and research centers, and the National Zoo. It receives a 62 percent majority of its more than $1 billion annual budget from congressional appropriations, federal grants, and government contracts. The institution is governed by a board of regents and overseen by Congress.
The executive order, however, gives Vance the authority to determine what content is “improper” at the Smithsonian Institution; as a government official, he is also a member of the Smithsonian’s board of regents.
Many art professionals and historians have decried the new mandate, including members of the American Historical Association.
“President Trump is restoring patriotism and pride in American history to our greatest public museums and protecting taxpayers from having their money wasted on divisive ideologies,” said Taylor Van Kirk, Vance’s press secretary, in a statement on Friday.
