Trump administration threatens to cut Smithsonian support in latest claim of ideological bias

The Trump administration is threatening to withdraw support for the Smithsonian Institution, accusing its leadership of presenting a “radical ideology” that weakens “shared American identity” in the latest effort to pressure the institution to change its presentations and practices.

The Department of the Interior sent a letter to the Smithsonian last Friday, which the department posted online, laying out the administrations’ criticisms of the institution and requesting an in-person meeting with its board.

In the letter, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and White House domestic policy assistant Vince Haley noted that the Smithsonian “enjoys support for executive departments and agencies” before threatening to sever those relationships.

“Those executive departments and agencies cannot in good conscience continue to support the Smithsonian under current leadership by, for example, loaning artifacts for exhibits, enabling procurement processes and making discretionary grants,” the letter said.

The Smithsonian Institution declined to comment on the letter and on whether any meeting has taken place.

The Trump administration has made multiple attempts to influence the Smithsonian, which traditionally has operated independently of the political party in power in Washington.

The administration officials alleged in the letter that the museum violated anti-discrimination law and developed a “culture of ideological activism,”…

Original source: https://www.nbcnews.com/business