Trump administration puts renewed pressure on Smithsonian to turn over materials for review

"The administration of US president Donald Trump has given the Smithsonian Institution a deadline of 13 January to turn over all the outstanding materials related to a review of programming and decision-making at eight of the 21 museums under its purview. In a letter addressed to Smithsonian secretary Lonnie G. Bunch last month, White House staff imply that the Smithsonian's future funding is contingent on complying with Trump's review."

""As you may know, funds apportioned for the Smithsonian Institution are only available for use in a manner consistent with Executive Order 14253," director of the domestic policy council Vince Haley and director of the office of management and budget Russell Vought wrote in . The Smithsonian's federal funding makes up around 62% of its annual budget and is determined through appropriations approved by Congress, not by the president. The disbursement of those funds, however, is controlled by the Office of Management and Budget."

"The renewed pressure to comply with Trump's review and the fast-approaching deadline come at a crucial time for the Smithsonian, whose board of regents is due to change significantly this year as up to six seats are vacated. The 17-member governing body consists of four Democratic elected officials, four Republicans and nine citizen members. New appointments have to be approved by Congress and the president."

President Trump's administration gave the Smithsonian a 13 January deadline to hand over outstanding materials related to a review of programming and decision-making at eight museums and implied federal funding could be withheld for noncompliance. White House officials cited Executive Order 14253 and wrote that funds apportioned for the Smithsonian must be used consistent with that order. Federal appropriations make up about 62% of the Smithsonian's budget, although the Office of Management and Budget controls disbursement. The executive order accused the institution of adopting a divisive, race-centered ideology and directed vice-president J.D. Vance to remove improper ideology. The Smithsonian's board of regents faces up to six vacancies; new appointments require congressional and presidential approval.

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