Protect Smithsonian integrity from political overreach

The news of the White House reviewing the Smithsonian's exhibits and educational materials to align with the president's view is deeply concerning. The Smithsonian Institution is meant to be a place of learning, discovery, and rigorous scholarship – not a tool for promoting any particular ideology or agenda. Attempting to alter historical narratives and remove content deemed "divisive" or contrary to "American exceptionalism" is a blatant politicization of an esteemed cultural institution. This executive overreach undermines the principles of academic freedom, factual accuracy, and open inquiry that museums should uphold. We urge Congress to take immediate action to protect the integrity and independence of the Smithsonian. Allowing this review to proceed unchecked sets a dangerous precedent of executive interference in education and risks eroding public trust in institutions dedicated to preserving and sharing our nation's history. The American people deserve access to comprehensive and unvarnished accounts of the past, highlighting both triumphs and struggles, so that we can learn from our shared experiences. Subjugating historical exhibitions to the vicissitudes of political winds does a disservice to promoting an informed, critically-thinking citizenry. Preserving the Smithsonian's autonomy and curatorial standards is vital for safeguarding the robust democratic traditions of open discourse and intellectual inquiry. We implore legislators to exercise their constitutional authority as a check on such executive overreach and ensure the Smithsonian remains a reservoir of knowledge, not a vehicle for partisan revisionism. The integrity of our democratic institutions is at stake.