The Trump administration has escalated its dispute with the Smithsonian Institution, warning it will consider withdrawing support from the organisation's museums unless it addresses alleged violations of federal nondiscrimination law. In a letter made public by the Department of the Interior, officials claimed the Smithsonian's leadership culture may have created a hostile work environment and allocated opportunities and funding based on race and other protected characteristics, though no specific evidence was included. The dispute matters because it reflects a broader conservative push against what officials call "improper ideology" in the Smithsonian's presentation of American history, following a 2025 executive order on the matter.

The letter warns that federal departments could stop loaning artifacts, enabling procurement or making discretionary grants to the Smithsonian, a threat separate from the ongoing row over roughly $1 billion in annual federal funding. It does not specify required changes but says any response must address "executive leadership and institutional ideology," a pointed remark given four seats on the Smithsonian's board of regents are due to open by October. The Interior Department has asked to meet Smithsonian representatives "at their earliest convenience," while critics argue the administration's campaign is a partisan attempt to reshape how history is presented to the public.