On Thursday, 4 members of the US’ Home of Representatives despatched a letter to Vice President J.D. Vance urging him to reject an overhaul of the Smithsonian Institution.
The letter was despatched in response to President Donald Trump‘s “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History” order, issued on March 27, to eradicate “divisive” and “anti-American” content material from the Smithsonian’s exhibitions and to revive “monuments, memorials, statues, markers” which have been faraway from public areas since 2020.
“We write to you as shared custodians of one of many nation’s crown jewels—and with nice concern over its future,” the letter begins.
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It highlights bipartisan efforts spanning a long time that led to the institution of the Nationwide Museum of African American Historical past and Tradition, the American Ladies’s Historical past Museum, and the Nationwide Museum of the American Latino.
“As we speak, [the Smithsonian] is the envy of cultural establishments throughout the planet—not due to ideological edicts or interference from politicians, however due to the world-renowned specialists who independently curate the Smithsonian’s collections, packages, reveals, and actions,” it continues. “It’s this curatorial independence that’s the hallmark of credible museums and cultural establishments.”
In gentle of the manager order, nevertheless, it explains “we now stand on the brink of seeing the Smithsonian at its worst: formed solely by the views and beliefs of 1 particular person as a method of increasing his political energy.”
The letter was authored by 4 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 additionally oversees the Library of Congress and United States Botanic Backyard, in addition to the Capitol’s artwork, books, and manuscript collections.
Established by Congress in 1846, the Smithsonian is a federal institution with 21 whole museums, 14 libraries and analysis facilities, and the Nationwide Zoo. It receives a 62 p.c majority of its greater than $1 billion annual price range from congressional appropriations, federal grants, and authorities contracts. The establishment is ruled by a board of regents and overseen by Congress.
The chief order, nevertheless, offers Vance the authority to find out what content material is “improper” on the Smithsonian Establishment; as a authorities official, he’s additionally a member of the Smithsonian’s board of regents.
Many artwork professionals and historians have decried the new mandate, together with members of the American Historical Association.
“President Trump is restoring patriotism and satisfaction in American historical past to our best public museums and defending taxpayers from having their cash wasted on divisive ideologies,” mentioned Taylor Van Kirk, Vance’s press secretary, in a statement on Friday.
