Anthea Hartig, the director of the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History (MNAH), defended the museum's work during a congressional hearing on July 22, 2026, amid criticism from the White House. A report from the White House Domestic Policy Council accused the museum's leadership of engaging in 'extreme political activism' and presenting a 'radical view of American history.' Hartig stated, 'Our work is governed by the Smithsonian standards of scholarship, accuracy, independence, and nonpartisanship,' emphasizing that the museum does not take sides in political debates.
Hartig's testimony was part of a hearing titled 'Rewriting American History: Examining the Smithsonian's Efforts to Reshape the Past.' She is scheduled to testify again before the Committee on House Administration. The White House report, released on July 4, claimed that the MNAH promotes 'anti-White activism,' 'illegal alien activism,' and 'transgender activism.' Hartig countered these claims, inviting lawmakers to visit the museum to assess its contents firsthand.
Vince Haley, Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council, expressed concerns that the museum has become a platform for ideological activism. Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch also disputed the report's findings in an internal letter to staff, stating that the museum's work is driven by a commitment to scholarship and accuracy.