Smithsonian National Museum of American History Director Anthea Hartig was unable to directly answer basic questions about sex and gender during a House hearing addressing concerns of political activism within the Smithsonian's displays.
During a hearing on July 21, 2026, Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., questioned Hartig about the museum's content, specifically referencing displays that include drag queens. Mace asked Hartig, "Do you believe that men can become women?" and "What is a woman?"
Hartig initially responded to the first question by stating, "Ma'am, as the director of the museum, that's not relevant in this case." When pressed by Mace, who pointed to images of drag queen displays, Hartig did not provide a direct answer. Instead, she began to discuss one of the displays.
Mace then asked Hartig, "What is a woman, Dr. Hartig?" Hartig began to reply, "as a director and as a historian, it's not my-" before Mace interrupted, stating, "You sexualized the American History Museum. So, this is a fair question. What is a woman?"
Hartig responded, "We strive to represent and not categorize all Americans."
The questioning continued regarding a glossary within a museum display that reportedly stated American culture traditionally recognizes two genders, while other countries recognize three or more. Mace asked Hartig, "how many genders are there?"
Hartig hesitated, asking, "Ma’am, which glossary?" After Mace clarified it was a display, Hartig responded, "I'm not sure which glossary you're speaking," and offered, "I’m happy to get back to you about that glossary."
Mace also raised a point about an exhibit stating that gender isn't always revealed at birth and asked Hartig when her gender was revealed to her. Hartig replied, "I don't really think that's relevant to the conversation."
Earlier in July 2026, a White House report alleged that the Smithsonian Institution, and particularly the National Museum of American History, has become a taxpayer-backed institution of "ideological capture" and "extreme political activism." The report, titled "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History," claimed the museum treats the American story as a political tool.
In her opening statement, Hartig stated that the Smithsonian takes the concerns raised in the White House report seriously. She asserted that "the museum does not take sides in America's political debates," but rather, "We preserve and document the evidence of American life in all of its breadth, so that the public can encounter the past and draw their own conclusions."
Hartig also said, "There is always room for improvement, but I also know the beauty and the inspiration and the expertise that lies in our collections, our exhibits, and our programming."