Rep. Mike Carey, R-Ohio, on Wednesday questioned Smithsonian leadership regarding changes to the National Museum of American History's mission statement and remarks about moving away from an "America First mentality." The exchange occurred during a hearing of the House Committee on House Administration.
Carey specifically asked Anthea Hartig, administrator of the National Museum of American History, about the removal of "American history" from the museum's mission statement. Hartig had previously stated that the change was made to help people "get out of the 'America First' mentality."
"What did you mean by America-first?" Carey asked Hartig during the hearing.
Carey's questions come as Republicans in Congress have focused on preserving national heritage and identity. Some conservatives have expressed concern over efforts to characterize the U.S. primarily through a lens of oppression or slavery, arguing that American ideals transcend historical failures.
Context of Mission Statement Change
The report "Saving America’s Story," released during President Donald Trump's administration, highlighted the National Museum of American History's mission statement change and specifically mentioned Hartig. The report stated that Hartig views history as a "prime tool of social justice" and connects "research and scholarship to activism and advocacy."
Hartig had explained the mission statement change in a 2024 presentation, noting the difficulty in moving past an "America First" mindset. She linked this to upcoming anniversaries, including the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the 25th anniversary of 9/11, and the fifth anniversary of January 6th.
During Wednesday's hearing, Hartig defended her leadership, stating that the museum preserves evidence of American life in all its breadth for the public to draw their own conclusions. "Examining the harder chapters of our history is not the same as hostility toward America," she said. She maintained that the museum does not take sides in political debates and that reframing narratives involves adding evidence and voices that were previously left out, not erasing history.
Carey quoted George Orwell's "1984," cautioning that "The most effective way to destroy people is to deny and obliterate their own understanding of their history." He then reiterated his question to Hartig about why "American history" should be removed from the American History museum's mission statement. Hartig did not provide a response before the hearing concluded due to time constraints.