Senator Lisa Murkowski, a Republican from Alaska, has taken a different stance from many of her party on the GOP’s response to the Smithsonian Institution’s presentation of American history. She, along with Senator Jeff Merkley, a Democrat from Oregon, has reached out to the Trump administration. They are seeking more information about President Donald Trump’s directive regarding “temporary signage” at the National Museum of American History. This stems from Trump’s allegations of the museum presenting history with a skewed and biased perspective.
The senators, who are Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, expressed their concerns in a letter. They specifically asked for clarity on the involvement of the Department of the Interior (DOI) in implementing the Executive Order titled ‘Restoring Trust in the Smithsonian Institution’.
There has been significant attention from Republicans on the funding of the Smithsonian Institution, which receives nearly $1 billion annually from Congress. Critics within the GOP argue that some exhibits are politically charged. Murkowski, however, seems to dispute this notion. In her bipartisan communication, she wrote to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, emphasizing the Smithsonian’s dedication over the past 180 years to impartial historical presentation, devoid of political influences.
The letter stated, “The Smithsonian Institution has worked tirelessly to present a comprehensive narrative of our nation’s history, encompassing both its triumphs and challenges. Accurately telling our story is a fundamental American principle.”
Last month, Trump signed an executive order authorizing temporary public exhibits or signage on federally owned spaces to address perceived inaccuracies in the museum’s presentations. These steps are intended to “restore trust in the Smithsonian Institution.”
Murkowski and Merkley seek to understand whether federal resources have historically been used to present “conflicting information” to an entity, details on who is compiling this information, and the timeline and cost implications of these signs.
One contentious exhibit mentioned by Republicans describes Disney’s “Steamboat Willie” as embodying “vestiges of long-standing traditions of blackface minstrelsy.” This has led to accusations of the museum’s broader narrative being “anti-white” or pandering to “woke” ideologies.
Some conservatives on the House Appropriations Committee have expressed to Fox News Digital a desire to impose new restrictions on Smithsonian funding. The aim is to compel alterations to controversial exhibits, under threat of losing federal financial support.
Alex Miller covers the U.S. Senate for Fox News Digital.