The American Alliance of Museums (AAM), the Organization of American Historians (OAH), and the American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) are among the groups voicing alarm after the White House instructed Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch to conduct an internal review of the institution’s exhibitions and collections.
As reported by the UK Museums Association, the review will assess eight of the Smithsonian’s 21 sites, scrutinising public-facing content for 'tone, historical framing, and alignment with American ideals.' Curators and senior staff will be questioned about their selection processes, while both current and upcoming exhibitions, especially those tied to the US’s 250th anniversary, will be closely examined.
The review also seeks to establish new curatorial guidelines, evaluate how collections are presented, and identify ways to 'highlight American achievement and progress,' including through digitisation or redistribution of materials.
President Trump intensified his criticism on 19 August, posting on social media that 'The Smithsonian is OUT OF CONTROL, where everything discussed is how horrible our Country is, how bad Slavery was, and how unaccomplished the downtrodden have been — Nothing about Success, nothing about Brightness, nothing about the Future.'
When asked whether funding cuts were on the table, a White House spokesperson said Trump would 'explore all options and avenues to get the Woke out of the Smithsonian and hold them accountable.'
US museum bodies react
In a statement, the American Alliance of Museums (AAM) warned of the 'growing threats of censorship against US museums' and said the White House’s intervention risked creating 'a chilling effect across the entire museum sector.' It stressed that museums earn public trust by relying on scholarship and open inquiry, warning that directives dictating content undermine freedom of thought and expression.
The Organization of American Historians (OAH) expressed 'deep concern and dismay,' arguing that the president lacked the authority to impose such a review. It described the move as 'executive overreach' that ignored the 179-year-old institution’s independent legal status as a congressional agency governed by a bipartisan Board of Regents. The OAH further cautioned that the review would 'flatten American history into a narrowly conceived, unrepresentative, and simplified story,' contrary to the public’s demand for a full, honest, and unvarnished account of the past.
The American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) described the review as 'an affront to our country’s cultural crown jewel' and a direct attack on the autonomy of the historical profession. AASLH accused the administration of undermining sound historical practice - rooted in evidence, complexity, and nuance - in favour of a distorted narrative of triumphalism. The association further argued that claims of pursuing historical accuracy were 'false.' Rather, the AASLH finds that 'through speciously worded executive orders, incendiary speeches, mass layoffs, funding cuts, and more, the White House has launched a steady campaign to break down our nation’s historical infrastructure and remake it in service of an exclusive, inaccurate vision of America’s past and present.’
Hear firsthand from AAM at NEMO European Museum Conference
NEMO is honoured to welcome Elizabeth Merritt, Vice President for Strategic Foresight at the AAM and Founding Director of the Center for the Future of Museums, as a keynote speaker at the NEMO European Museum Conference 'Who cares? Museums, wellbeing, and resilience', taking place from 26–28 October 2025 in Horsens, Denmark.
On 27 October, Merritt will explore how US museums are responding to shifting wellbeing needs and the dismantling of government support systems, outlining potential futures in which museums serve as vital components of a new infrastructure of care.
In a presentation at the Directors’ Meeting the day prior, Elizabeth Merritt will share a status report on US museums in 2025. She will dive deeper into the severe challenges museums face from recent presidential actions that have cut federal arts funding, cancelled grants, restricted DEI efforts, imposed censorship, and threatened nonprofit status.
The Directors’ Meeting is exclusively organised for directors of national organisations that represent and support museums in their countries, and upon personal invitation only.
NEMO supports museum independence
Across Europe, museums are also facing political pressure. In response, NEMO recently launched a new online resource to strengthen the independence of museums. The dedicated webpage brings together tools, research, statements, and advocacy materials to help institutions navigate political challenges while upholding professional standards and their public mission.
- Explore the new webpage
- Got resources or examples to share? We welcome submissions and contributions from the museum community - get in touch!
