EveryLibrary condemns White House overreach into the Smithsonian Institution
EveryLibrary, the first and only national organization dedicated to building voter support for libraries, today expressed deep concern over the White House’s recently announced “comprehensive review” of the Smithsonian Institution’s museums dedicated to history, culture, art, and science.
According to public reports and the Aug. 12, 2025 White House letter, the Trump administration is requiring eight Smithsonian museums — including the National Museum of American History, the National Museum of African American History and Culture, and the National Portrait Gallery — to submit exhibition content, draft plans for future shows and internal guidelines for review.
The administration expects the Smithsonian’s vast collections to be aligned with the March 2025 Executive Order on “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History” within 120 days.
“The Smithsonian is not an arm of the Executive Branch,” EveryLibrary stated. “It was created as a public trust in 1846, governed by its Board of Regents, and protected by law from this type of executive overreach. Demanding prior review of exhibitions undermines the professional standards, integrity, and independence that define the Smithsonian.”
While the administration has described its initiative as collaborative, the requirement for museums to turn over internal resources, educational materials, and governance documents goes far beyond collaboration. This attempted oversight compromises the independence of one of the world’s premier cultural institutions and imposes a narrow political worldview on the American people.
EveryLibrary warns that such actions could set a dangerous precedent. If the Smithsonian can be pressured to align with political directives, smaller institutions — such as local history museums and public libraries — may face increased demands to censor or alter their programs to match official narratives. This encroachment threatens the right of communities to explore history, culture, and identity freely and truthfully.
“Our concerns are not unrealistic given the current pace of federal initiatives aimed at aligning cultural and educational institutions with a narrow political interpretation of history and identity. If left unchecked, it could threaten the independence of not only the Smithsonian but also the libraries, archives, and museums that rely on public support and trust. Public libraries and local museums, governed by their own boards and rooted in community priorities, may find themselves pressured to censor or exclude works that do not align with an officially sanctioned version of American history.
“EveryLibrary stands with the broader community of museums, libraries, and archives in rejecting this overreach. We call on Congress to exercise oversight and protect the independence of our national cultural institutions.”
“As we approach our nation’s 250th anniversary, Americans deserve cultural institutions that tell our whole story—honestly, with integrity, and without political manipulation,” EveryLibrary added. “Anything less diminishes the very democracy these institutions exist to uphold.”
EveryLibrary is the first and only national political action committee for libraries. As a pro-library, nonpartisan organization, EveryLibrary builds voter support for libraries, opposes censorship, and fights anti-library legislation across the country. Through its public advocacy and grassroots campaigns, including the FightForTheFirst.org platform, EveryLibrary works to ensure that libraries and cultural institutions remain free, independent, and accessible for all.
For more information or to learn how to support libraries, visit www.everylibrary.org.