The Smithsonian Institution is facing intensified scrutiny from Republicans who claim the museum is promoting a left-wing agenda, fueled by a review of public records that identified a significant number of former Democratic staffers and employees from progressive nonprofits in senior and curatorial positions. These appointments have coincided with an emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives within the institution's hiring practices.
A review by Fox News Digital of public biographies and social media profiles found approximately two dozen individuals in leadership roles or as curators who previously worked for Democratic offices or liberal organizations before joining the Smithsonian. This pattern, indicated by leadership biographies and political donation records, has amplified conservative concerns that the institution exhibits a left-of-center bias.
Republicans have specifically criticized the National Museum of American History, alleging that it prioritizes progressive ideology, identity politics, and social justice issues over the nation's founding principles and traditional historical figures. Exhibits addressing gender identity and social justice have been singled out, with critics arguing that political activism has supplanted the neutral presentation of history.
DEI Initiatives and Staff Backgrounds
Roshni Lal, the director of the Smithsonian’s office of academic appointments and internships, has a career focused on advancing DEI in hiring. Her professional background includes roles such as director of diversity, equity, and inclusion for the Mountain Pacific Association of Colleges & Employers, where she managed policies and training described as anti-racist and rooted in social justice. She also held similar positions at the Manhattan Beach Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Colleges and Employers. In a 2024 podcast, Lal discussed her commitment to "identity-based career services," particularly connecting with "students of color" through "culturally inclusive" job placement.
Several curators at the National Museum of American History also describe their work through the lens of race, identity, and social justice, themes reflected in museum exhibits and initiatives. The current chairwoman of the museum's political history division, for example, also oversees the Center for Restorative History, which aims to highlight excluded narratives using restorative justice principles and by incorporating "diverse voices." This center has programs focused on preserving the history of the Black Lives Matter movement and a "decolonization working group."
Other curators focus on similar themes. One is working on "stitching social justice throughout the Americas" through exhibit work, while others primarily study race. Lal’s predecessor, who served for 11 years starting in 2012, had previous roles 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 its hiring practices, asserting that hiring is based solely on qualifications for the position responsibilities. However, the review identified other staff with ties to left-leaning backgrounds, including the National Museum of American History head librarian, 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 also include the 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 with past involvement in a militant civil rights organization; and a curator of time-based media for the Smithsonian American Art Museum who previously worked for a feminist art gallery.
Congressional Oversight and Political Donations
Congressional Republicans have conducted hearings to investigate claims that the National Museum of American History has used taxpayer funds to promote narratives on race, gender, and oppression, while downplaying the nation's founding ideals. Lawmakers are reportedly considering using Congress's spending authority to restrict Smithsonian funding as leverage to influence the removal of exhibits deemed inappropriate. Mike Gonzalez, a senior fellow at the Heritage Foundation, testified that leaders have transformed the institution into a "hothouse for anti-American activism," using Marxist and Gramscian constructs to dismantle the American narrative.
While a comprehensive analysis of all Smithsonian employees' political leanings is not feasible through public records alone, campaign finance data offers some insight. According to a Fox News Digital review of campaign finance records, only about 1% of donations from individuals identifying as Smithsonian employees have gone to Republican committees in the current cycle.
Some Smithsonian leadership positions are held by individuals with backgrounds from different political eras. The institution's 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.