The Smithsonian Institution issued a statement on Monday, reaffirming its autonomy from external influences in light of President Donald Trump’s recent announcement regarding the firing of National Portrait Gallery head Kim Sajet.
Trump described Sajet as a ‘highly partisan person’ and criticized her support for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, asserting that such views were inappropriate for her position.
In response to the situation, the Smithsonian emphasized that all personnel decisions fall under the purview of the Secretary and are subject to the oversight of the Board of Regents.
Following a Board of Regents meeting, which included discussions with Vice President JD Vance and Chief Justice John Roberts, the institution clarified its governance structure in a statement sent to ABC News.
The Board of Regents consists of various members, including senators appointed by the president and representatives chosen by the Speaker of the House, alongside nine Citizen Regents.
The statement from the Smithsonian came after President Trump’s announcement that he had dismissed Sajet, following claims of her partisanship and rejection of a painting by artist Julian Raven that depicted Trump.
Despite the firing announcement, Sajet continues to fulfill her duties at the National Portrait Gallery, as confirmed by a Smithsonian spokesperson.
Lonnie G. Bunch, Secretary of the Smithsonian, reached out to staff following the board meeting, acknowledging the importance of aligning institutional content with values of scholarship and nonpartisanship.
Bunch stated, ‘While the vast majority of our content is rooted in meticulous research and thoughtful analysis of history and facts, we recognize that, on occasion, some of our work has not aligned with our institutional values of scholarship, even-handedness and nonpartisanship. For that, we must all work to do better.’
The Secretary underscored the importance of the institution as a welcoming environment where visitors can be inspired and challenged intellectually.
The Smithsonian’s statement addressed criticisms from the Trump administration regarding perceived biased content and staffing within the institution.
To reinforce its nonpartisan stance, the Board of Regents instructed the Secretary to set clear expectations for museum directors and staff concerning content in their respective museums.
The board also allowed reasonable time for directors to implement any necessary changes to maintain unbiased content and mandated reports on progress and personnel adjustments based on the success of these changes.
Details regarding specific deadlines for these adjustments remain unclear, as inquiries from ABC News went unanswered.
Earlier, President Trump signed an executive order that assigned Vice President Vance to oversee efforts aimed at eliminating ‘improper ideology’ across the Smithsonian.
This directive specifically targets funding for initiatives that promote ‘divisive narratives’ and ‘improper ideology,’ reflecting the administration’s focus on changing the cultural narrative within federal institutions.
In addition to changes at the Smithsonian, Trump has previously made moves to restructure leadership at various cultural institutions, including the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, where he installed himself as chairman in February after dismissing members of the board of trustees.
The ongoing developments raise questions about the role of political influence within cultural institutions and the balance of maintaining nonpartisan scholarship in museums like the Smithsonian.
As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how these changes will affect the direction and programming within one of the world’s largest museum and research complexes.
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