House Republicans Grill Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History Director Over Alleged Political Activism

Republican members repeatedly questioned Hartig about her statements on patriotism and the museum’s exhibit choices, while Democratic members defended the institution’s scholarly independence.

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The White House report was released on July 4, the same day the administration announced an executive order—issued after President Donald Trump returned to office last year—mandating a sweeping content review of Smithsonian programming and seeking to eliminate “improper ideology.” The order also led to the firing of the chief of the National Archives and the resignation of National Portrait Gallery director Kim Sajet. “When one is dealing with momentous events, showing a full picture of their occurrence so long as it’s unbiased and it’s balanced is a role for the Smithsonian,” — Michael Heyman.

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• Rep. Greg Murphy (R-N.C.) told Hartig that the museum’s approach “is absolute political activism” and that it presents history from a “leftist, progressive viewpoint.”

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• Rep. Bryan Steil (R-Wis.) criticized Hartig for saying “loving America is complicated,” asserting that such rhetoric “is not just rhetoric” “You have said loving America is complicated. Sadly, it’s not just rhetoric,” — Rep. Bryan Steil.

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• Rep. Stephanie Bice (R-Okla.)

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• Democratic ranking member Rep. Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.) “We’re here for one single reason,” — Rep. Joe Morelle

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Republican lawmakers framed the museum’s work as ideologically driven, citing Hartig’s 2021 webinar remark that “loving America is very complicated” and an exhibit titled “Girlhood (It’s Complicated)” that addressed transgender youth. They pressed for a more “America First” narrative and questioned specific exhibit content, such as displays of drag queens and sexual themes. Democrats argued that the hearings served Trump’s broader effort to reshape public memory and defended the museum’s commitment to “rigorous, fact-based, museum-quality experiences” that acknowledge “enduring debates” in American history.

(The) Atlantic

• The museum houses roughly 1.7 million objects.

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• Current exhibitions include 368 objects and 340 labels related to the founding era, with George Washington mentioned 54 times.

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• The collection contains 45 banjos and a dedicated 15-foot-tall reproduction of the Declaration of Independence.

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• “You have said loving America is complicated. Sadly, it’s not just rhetoric,” — Rep. Bryan Steil

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• “We’re here for one single reason,” — Rep. Joe Morelle

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• “When one is dealing with momentous events, showing a full picture of their occurrence so long as it’s unbiased and it’s balanced is a role for the Smithsonian,” — Michael Heyman

(The) Atlantic

The White House report characterizes the museum’s programming as “extreme political activism” and alleges intentional erasure of American history. The precise criteria used by the administration to define “improper ideology” remain undisclosed.

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The White House has not responded to requests for comment. Further congressional oversight is anticipated as Republicans continue to pursue additional hearings on Smithsonian content, while museum leadership plans to submit a detailed response to the administration’s executive order.

(The) Atlantic