Republican Representative Mike Carey questioned Smithsonian leaders at a House hearing over the National Museum of American History’s removal of the phrase “American history” from its mission statement. The dispute matters because it reflects a wider political argument over how publicly funded cultural institutions should present US history and national identity.

Carey said museum leadership had explained the change as an effort to help people move beyond an “America First mentality”. He criticised that rationale and sought answers from Smithsonian officials about the museum’s direction and responsibility to preserve and present American history.