The American Alliance of Museums condemns the Administration’s continued attacks on the Smithsonian Institution and the museum professionals responsible for preserving, researching, and interpreting our nation’s history, art, science, and culture.

These attacks are not confined to Washington. As our nation’s flagship museum system and an AAM-accredited institution, the Smithsonian reflects the highest standards of scholarship, stewardship, and public service. Efforts to politicize how museums present history, art, science, culture, and the natural world—and personal attacks on the museum professionals who carry out that work—threaten the integrity and independence of museums across the country.

The American public overwhelmingly supports museums as trusted, nonpartisan institutions. AAM’s national research has found 92% of US adults think museums are non-partisan providers of educational content; the majority of Americans oppose censorship in museums; and majorities across the political spectrum want museums to present full and inclusive content. Americans want access to evidence, scholarship, and authentic artifacts so they can consider the complexities of our shared past and decide for themselves what those histories mean. Attempts to censor or restrict those stories are fundamentally at odds with what the public wants from museums.

Museums have strong bipartisan support, and Congress has long recognized the importance of preserving the Smithsonian’s independence through its governance structure. Oversight is an important congressional responsibility, but it must be grounded in objective inquiry and respect for institutional independence. Recent White House reports, investigations, and planned hearings approach the Smithsonian through a partisan framework built on predetermined conclusions rather than a neutral, evidence-based examination.

The questions raised by the recent White House report and subsequent congressional actions extend well beyond any single museum. If scholarship at our nation’s leading museum system can become subject to political influence, no museum is beyond reach. The precedent would jeopardize the independence of 22,000 museums of every size and discipline across the country.

Museums help people make sense of the world. They preserve our history and military service, advance scientific discovery, protect biodiversity, foster civic dialogue, inspire curiosity, and strengthen communities by contributing to education, workforce development, tourism, and local economies. The American Alliance of Museums stands firmly with museum professionals across the country in defending the scholarly integrity, institutional independence, and public trust that allow museums to serve all Americans. We call on all elected leaders of every political affiliation to reject efforts to politicize museums and uphold the public trust and independence that enable them to serve all Americans.

About the American Alliance of Museums

The American Alliance of Museums (AAM) is the only organization representing the entire museum field, from art and history museums to science centers and zoos. Since 1906, we have been championing museums through advocacy and providing museum professionals with the resources, knowledge, inspiration, and connections they need to move the field forward.

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Press Contact:

Natanya Khashan
media@aam-us.org