Smithsonian given White House deadline to hand over records, could face cuts

The Smithsonian has been given a White House deadline to turn over records about its programming and other matters next week, and officials warned the institution could face potential cuts to its budget if it does not comply. The demand follows President Trump’s campaign to press the Smithsonian to present a more positive view of America, launched last March with Executive Order 14253, "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History." After providing some materials for eight museums last summer, the Smithsonian has produced only part of a longer list of requested documents; a Dec.

18 White House letter to Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III said the institution had "fallen far short" of meeting deadlines and noted that the Smithsonian’s roughly $1 billion budget is largely dependent on federal funds. The letter added that "funds apportioned for the Smithsonian Institution are only available for use in a manner consistent with" the executive order and the document request.

The White House has asked eight museums, including the National Museum of American History and the National Museum of African American History and Culture, for extensive materials such as gallery wall text, inventories of permanent holdings, and exhibition plans and budgets, including programming tied to the country’s 250th anniversary.

Key Topics

Politics, Smithsonian, Lonnie Bunch, Donald Trump, National Portrait Gallery