Republican Congressman Brandon Gill has publicly criticized Anthea Hartig, the director of the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, over the museum's perceived promotion of a political ideology and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. The exchange, described by Gill as a confrontation, took place during a hearing where he questioned Hartig about the museum's direction.
Gill specifically highlighted a program called the "MASS Action Toolkit," which stands for "Museums as Sites for Social Action." According to notes from the exchange, this program was created around 2017 by museum professionals and is described as a "far-left, anti-Trump propaganda narrative" intended to transform museum workplaces into centers for activism and resistance. The Smithsonian staff reportedly promoted it as part of their DEI efforts.
The congressman contends that such initiatives represent a broader trend of "woke ideology" and DEI appointments becoming deeply embedded within institutions. He expressed concern that the museum's direction is leading to the vilification of historical figures and the "reinvention" of American history. Gill stated that the Smithsonian, as a prominent institution visited by millions annually, has been infiltrated by individuals who view it as a tool to indoctrinate visitors against the values of the nation's Founding Fathers.
Gill suggested that this perceived ideological shift is part of a long-term strategy by the left, characterized by playing a "wait you out" game. He called for a high-profile "America First" figure to take leadership at the Smithsonian to counter these perceived influences and to assert that "the cancellation of our Founding Fathers and the reinvention of our American history ends now."
He argued that President Trump could exert influence on the Smithsonian's Board of Regents to appoint a new leader who recognizes the contributions of the Founding Fathers and believes in American exceptionalism. Such a leader, according to Gill, would begin to address what he described as "far-left garbage" within the institution, asserting that the future of the nation depends on this effort.