Republicans in House DOGE subcommittee excoriate a Smithsonian administrator : NPR

During a subcommittee hearing on Tuesday, House Republicans intensely scrutinized Anthea Hartig, the director of the National Museum of American History. Their criticisms mirrored those of the Trump administration, which accused the museum of lacking patriotism.

This session was organized by the House’s Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency, led by Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn).

In his introduction, Burchett stated: “I feel like [the Smithsonian]’s become infected by a woke ideology that seeped into public displays, educational materials and planning documents. The American story is the birth and growth of a great nation founded on powerful ideals and which we aim to fully achieve. But in the museum’s current telling, history is just an ongoing power struggle between oppressors and the oppressed.”

A report released on July 4 by the White House Domestic Policy Council criticized the Smithsonian museum, claiming it had been overtaken by a radical ideology that opposes telling the true, honorable story of the nation.

The council accused the National Museum of American History of neglecting the Founding Fathers and early American history, failing to sufficiently celebrate the country’s 250th anniversary, and promoting “anti-white,” “illegal alien,” and transgender activism. It also alleged that the museum attempted to indoctrinate teachers and students through its programs and resources.

Simultaneously, House Democrats released a 16-page rebuttal to the White House’s report, accusing the Trump administration of trying to harm the credibility of museums and scholars. They argue that this is part of a broader effort to manipulate the historical narrative. The Democrats cited recent public opinion surveys showing that museums remain among the most trusted institutions in the U.S., following only personal relationships.