Smithsonian wrestles with independence as White House review picks up

Children look at the Star Spangled Banner, the flag that inspired the lyrics of the American national anthem, at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, on June 10, 2025. Mark Schiefelbein/AP Washington, D.C. —

The Smithsonian Institution is facing a deadline to hand over information to the White House related to a review of its exhibitions by Friday, as it navigates an unprecedented degree of scrutiny of its museums.

The review is part of an ongoing effort from the Trump administration to align prominent institutions with his cultural agenda, which has raised questions over whether the White House should have a say on content showcased at the nation’s leading museums.

While the Smithsonian, a unique public-private trust, does not consider itself an executive agen