Congressional Republicans are intensifying scrutiny of the Smithsonian Institution, alleging that a notable contingent of former Democratic staffers and leaders from progressive nonprofits now occupy senior positions. These appointments, coupled with an emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, have fueled conservative criticism that the institution has adopted a left-of-center bias.
A review of public biographies and social media profiles identified approximately two dozen individuals in leadership or curatorial roles at the Smithsonian who previously worked for Democratic offices or progressive organizations. These findings suggest a pattern extending beyond a small number of senior employees, with political donation records also indicating a lean toward the Democratic Party among some staff.
Republicans have specifically targeted the National Museum of American History, accusing it of promoting progressive ideology, emphasizing identity politics, and neglecting foundational American history and figures. Past exhibits addressing gender identity, diversity, and social justice have also drawn criticism, with lawmakers suggesting political activism has overshadowed a neutral presentation of history.
Critics point to individuals like Roshni Lal, director of the Smithsonian’s office of academic appointments and internships, whose career has focused on advancing DEI in hiring. Her professional biography indicates a commitment to anti-racist and social justice-rooted policies, and she has discussed "identity-based career services" and connecting with "students of color" through "culturally inclusive" job placement.
Several curators at the National Museum of American History describe their work as centered on race, identity, and social justice. The chairwoman of the museum's political history division also oversees the Center for Restorative History, which aims to highlight overlooked narratives using restorative justice principles and "diverse voices." This center has programs focused on preserving the history of the Black Lives Matter movement and a "decolonization working group."
While Lal joined the Smithsonian in November 2023, her predecessor, who served for 11 years, had prior experience in the Clinton White House, the Obama State Department, and as a special assistant to then-Sen. Hillary Clinton.
A spokesperson for the Smithsonian stated that the institution is nonpartisan and that politics does not influence hiring practices, asserting that all hiring is based on qualifications for the position. However, the institution's leadership is not uniformly aligned with one political perspective; for instance, the chief legal officer served in the Bush administration, and the chief of staff to the organization's regents clerked for Chief Justice John G. Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh.
Congressional Republicans have held hearings to investigate claims that the Smithsonian has used taxpayer funds to promote left-wing narratives on race, gender, and oppression while downplaying American founding ideals. Lawmakers are reportedly considering using Congress' spending authority to restrict funding and pressure the institution to remove exhibits deemed inappropriate.
Other staff with backgrounds in left-of-center organizations include the head librarian at the National Museum of American History, who previously worked for the Urban Institute; an advisory board member who was a senior staffer for the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein; the undersecretary for education, who served in the Obama administration; the associate director of advancement for strategic initiatives, who came from the NAACP; and the director of communications for the National Museum of American History, who was a senior staffer for House Democratic leadership.
Curators with progressive backgrounds include a former director of curatorial affairs at the National Portrait Gallery who held DEI roles at colleges, an associate curator at the National Museum of the American Indian involved with a civil rights organization in the 1970s, and a curator of time-based media at the Smithsonian American Art Museum who previously worked for a feminist art gallery.
Fox News Digital defined liberal-aligned groups as those publicly associated with the Democratic Party or focused on issues like environmentalism, racial justice, or left-of-center economic policy. The review encompassed a portion of the Smithsonian’s approximately 6,400 full-time employees, focusing on publicly documented leadership roles.
Campaign finance records reviewed by Fox News Digital show that approximately 1% of donations from individuals identifying as Smithsonian employees have gone to Republican committees in the current cycle.