The House Oversight Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency (DOGE) held a hearing Tuesday titled “Rewriting American History: Examining the Smithsonian’s Efforts to Reshape the Past,” focusing on exhibits and educational materials at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, as reported by Red State.
The hearing followed the release of a 162-page report by the White House Domestic Policy Council on July 4 that criticized the museum’s presentation of American history and alleged that political ideology had influenced exhibits and programming.
During the hearing, Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Texas, questioned Dr. Anthea Hartig, director of the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, about several museum initiatives, including a “Mass Action Tool Kit” that had been promoted during her tenure.
Gill repeatedly questioned Hartig about the museum’s exhibits, educational resources, and mission, while Hartig responded to members’ questions throughout the hearing.
The White House report identified four principal findings regarding the museum’s presentation of American history:
NMAH Fails to Substantively Present America’s Founders and Founding.
NMAH Has “Problematized” the 250th Anniversary of America’s Founding.
NMAH Removed “American History” from Its Mission Statement to “Get Out of the ‘America First’ Mentality.”
NMAH Has Abandoned Historical Scholarship for Political Activism.
The report also criticized exhibits and programming related to race, immigration and gender identity, concluding that there had been what it described as “ideological capture at the museum.”
According to the report, the concerns extend beyond individual exhibits and reflect broader questions about how American history is presented at one of the nation’s largest museums.
“The serious concerns raised in this report are not about a few exhibits or a few controversial labels. They concern whether America’s premier history museum still presents America as a coherent nation and heritage worth teaching with gratitude and honesty. The Museum can broaden the story without dissolving the story. It can and should acknowledge slavery, injustice, mistreatment of Native peoples, and other grave wrongs without encouraging citizens to view their country mainly through suspicion, resentment, and division. But that is not what the National Museum of American History is doing. As it stands today, it would benefit most Americans, especially parents bringing their children for a tour, if the Smithsonian’s flagship history museum had a label at every entrance that reads: ‘Warning: the exhibits in this museum were prepared by people who don’t want you to love your country.'”
The report continued by arguing that the museum’s approach has implications beyond its exhibits.
“The findings of this report matter beyond the museum world. Not all Americans follow academic theories or curatorial fashions, but they do understand when a revered public institution has traded settled truths and basic history for political activism and division. They do notice when the heroes, principles, and events that formed the country are pushed to the margins. They notice when their children are introduced to inappropriate sexual and ideological content under the guise of civic education. And they object when their children and grandchildren are being indoctrinated to regard their country primarily as a source of oppression and unresolved grievance.”
The hearing comes after actions taken by the Trump administration regarding federal museums and historical institutions.
In March 2025, President Donald Trump signed the executive order titled “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History.”
The order stated that “museums in our Nation’s capital should be places where individuals go to learn — not to be subjected to ideological indoctrination or divisive narratives that distort our shared history.”
The executive order also included a section titled “Saving Our Smithsonian,” directing the vice president, in consultation with White House officials, to work through the Smithsonian Board of Regents to implement the administration’s policies.
The order called for efforts to remove what it described as improper ideology from Smithsonian museums, education and research centers and the National Zoo, while recommending additional actions if necessary.
Several months later, the administration directed a comprehensive review of Smithsonian museums ahead of events commemorating America’s 250th anniversary.
Tuesday’s hearing marked the latest stage in congressional oversight of the Smithsonian Institution as lawmakers continue examining how American history is presented in federally supported museums and educational programs.
The hearing also highlighted the broader debate over historical interpretation, museum exhibits and the role of public institutions in presenting the nation’s history.
