During a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing on July 21, 2026, Republican lawmakers criticized the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History for including exhibits with bondage and transgender imagery, claiming they are inappropriate for children. Lawmakers, including Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina, confronted museum director Anthea Hartig about the presence of what they termed 'images of sexual fetishes' in the museum. Mace stated, 'You’re putting this kind of content in front of kids, sexualizes them and makes them more vulnerable to people that want to rape them or abuse them.'
Rep. Brandon Gill of Texas questioned Hartig regarding a toolkit that he claimed labels objectivity as a tool of White supremacy and sought clarification on an exhibit discussing the origins of Mickey Mouse. Hartig defended the museum's approach, stating, 'It’s not for me to determine what’s problematic, it’s for me to determine what’s accurate.' She acknowledged that the toolkit was referenced by the museum in the past but was not developed by them. The hearing reflects ongoing Republican concerns about perceived liberal bias in the Smithsonian's programming and exhibits.