Congressional Hearing Grills Smithsonian Over 'Rewriting American History'
On Capitol Hill, a House Committee held a hearing called 'Rewriting American History: Examining the Smithsonian's Efforts to Reshape the Past.' This event was prompted by a July 4 report from Trump’s White House Policy Council titled 'Saving America's Story,' which criticized the Smithsonian for alleged leftist views. Anthea Hartig, who directs the National Museum of American History, faced tough questions from Republicans, especially Chairman Tim Burchett. Witnesses included conservatives like Mike Gonzalez and Matthew Spalding, along with historian David Blight, who defended the Smithsonian. Gonzalez called for leadership changes. Additionally, Democrat Melanie Stansbury introduced the 'Smithsonian Integrity and Historical Independence Act.' The hearing lasted 2 hours and 21 minutes, coinciding with another session by the House Administration Committee that same day.
Key facts
- Hearing titled 'Rewriting American History: Examining the Smithsonian's Efforts to Reshape the Past' held by House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
- Prompted by July 4 report 'Saving America's Story' from Trump's White House Policy Council.
- Anthea Hartig, director of the National Museum of American History, testified.
- Republican Chairman Tim Burchett showed a supercut of Hartig's land acknowledgements.
- Mike Gonzalez of Heritage Foundation called for firing Smithsonian leadership and deauthorizing Latino and Women's museums.
- Democrat Melanie Stansbury introduced the 'Smithsonian Integrity and Historical Independence Act'.
- Nancy Mace questioned Hartig about queer content and child safety.
- Brandon Gill referenced the MASS Action Toolkit's 'White Supremacy Culture' document.
- Jasmine Crockett called the hearing a 'White Pride rally'.
- Hearing lasted 2 hours and 21 minutes; a second hearing by House Administration Committee occurred same day.
Entities
Artists
- RuPaul
- George Takei
- Thomas Paine
- Abraham Lincoln
- George Washington
- Thomas Jefferson
- Mickey Mouse
- Herbert Marcuse
- Antonio Gramsci
- Thomas Frank
- Tema Okun
Institutions
- Smithsonian Institution
- National Museum of American History
- House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
- White House Policy Council
- Heritage Foundation
- Hillsdale College
- Yale University
- New York Times
- House Administration Committee
- MASS Action Toolkit
- National Museum of African American History and Culture
- Entertainment Weekly
Locations
- Capitol Hill
- Tennessee
- New Mexico
- Texas
- Virginia
- South Carolina
- Colorado
- Georgia
- Maryland
- Missouri
- Michigan
- United States