The director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, Anthea M. Hartig, testified before a House Oversight subcommittee on Tuesday, rejecting a recent White House report that branded the institution’s leadership as radical activists who cannot be trusted.

White House Report Sparks Controversy

The report, released on July Fourth, argued that the museum does not tell history in a way that is inspiring, unifying, and worthy of the great republic. Republicans on the panel reiterated some of these concerns, with Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., stating that the museum’s current telling of history is just an ongoing power struggle between oppressors and the oppressed.

Hartig responded by saying that the museum does not take sides in America’s political debates and that its presentation of the nation’s story is an evolution intended to add voices, not erase history. She also mentioned that the museum opened an exhibit in May called ‘In Pursuit of Life, Liberty and Happiness’ to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, which includes 250 objects throughout the building, such as the desk used by Thomas Jefferson to draft the Declaration of Independence.

Museum’s Leadership Under Scrutiny

Hartig faced particular scrutiny from Republicans over an exhibit entitled ‘Girlhood (It’s Complicated),’ which included a diary from a 13-year-old exploring issues including gender identity. The museum director said the exhibit, which ran from 2020 through 2023, included a label making clear it was not designed for children.

The White House report also argued that the museum has refused to celebrate the Nation and its history, and that it has not created any exhibit dedicated to presenting a general narrative of American history or telling the story of any of the Founding Fathers. Hartig’s future as the museum’s director hung over the hearing, as President Donald Trump has engaged in a broad national effort to reshape the stories of America told by cultural institutions controlled or influenced by the federal government.

Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.