August 24, 2025
Trump weaponizes federal funding to force Smithsonian censorship of slavery history
Museums threatened for teaching accurate American history
🎭Religion & Culture🔐Ethics✊Civil Rights🎓Education
President Trump launched comprehensive review of eight Smithsonian museums in August 2025, targeting exhibits about slavery, civil rights, and systemic racism that contradict his "American greatness" narrative.
White House officials sent detailed demands for content alignment with Trump's cultural directives while threatening funding restrictions, raising constitutional concerns about government control over educational institutions.
Trump published White House webpage August 24 listing specific Smithsonian slavery exhibits, civil rights displays, and educational materials for administrative review
The review targets National Museum of African American History and Culture displays about systemic racism, segregation, and historical injustices
Webpage identifies exhibits about slavery, Jim Crow laws, and civil rights movements as content requiring evaluation for removal or modification
Smithsonian Institution operates with federal funding and reports to Board of Regents that includes Congressional appointees and executive branch officials
Museum professionals must respond to administrative review requests while maintaining educational mission and historical accuracy standards
The institution houses over 155 million artifacts and specimens across 19 museums and 9 research centers in Washington DC area
Current exhibits document American history including slavery, segregation, civil rights movement, and ongoing struggles for equality
Review process follows executive authority over federal agencies while museums maintain professional curation and educational responsibilities
🎭Religion & Culture🔐Ethics✊Civil Rights🎓Education
People, bills, and sources
What You Can Do
1
Visit National Museum of African American History and Culture to view current exhibits and understand scope of collections
2
Contact House Appropriations Committee about Smithsonian funding and oversight of federal museum operations
3
Research Board of Regents composition and appointment process for Smithsonian governance structure
4
Monitor which specific exhibits undergo modification or removal through administrative review process
5
Support museum educational programs and research initiatives through donations or volunteer opportunities