A recent White House report has concluded that the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History (NMAH) has become a taxpayer-backed institution of ‘ideological capture’ and ‘extreme political activism.’ The report, titled ‘Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,’ was released on America’s 250th birthday and criticizes the museum’s approach to race, immigration, gender, and sexuality.

Allegations of Ideological Capture

The report alleges that the museum has moved away from straightforward historical education and scholarship and toward activism. NMAH’s director, Anthea Hartig, has explicitly stated that she sees history as a ‘prime tool of social justice’ and one of her roles as connecting ‘research and scholarship to activism and advocacy.’ The report argues that this approach has led to the museum presenting revisionist history, using terms that exist now but not then, including ‘Critical Social Justice.’

The report also criticizes the museum’s approach to America’s Founding era, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and other Founding Fathers. A visitor to the museum will find no major exhibit dedicated to these topics, and instead, will find Founders introduced chiefly through their connection to slavery while their decisive roles in building the Republic and their anti-slavery efforts are minimized or ignored.

Implications and Concerns

The report raises concerns about the museum’s approach to history and its impact on the American people. The Smithsonian Institution receives over $1 billion annually in taxpayer support, and the report argues that the museum’s ideology does not comport with the Trump administration’s initiatives to remove political influence in government entities.

Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.