Will the Smithsonian Hide Its DEI Program, or Ditch It for Good?

January’s been a cornucopia of news. First, it’s no surprise that the National Gallery and the Smithsonian are complying — so far, it seems — with Trump’s executive order to dismantle their DEI programs.

Race hustlers hoped the Smithsonian wouldn’t, since only half its money comes from Congress but it’s part of the Department of the Interior. The Smithsonian’s a DEI hotspot. In 2020, the Museum of African American History, otherwise a joy, got nabbed red-handed pushing a “perils of whiteness” syllabus for teachers visiting the museum. “Self-reliance,” “hard work is the key to success,” “be polite,” and “the scientific method” were, we would have learned if we were visiting children, racist tropes. A small scandal ensued, though it should have been a big one. A coat of whitewash was applied, and DEI at the Smithsonian went from flamenco to waltz.

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Brian T. Allen

Brian T. Allen is National Review’s art critic.

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January’s been a cornucopia of news. First, it’s no surprise that the National Gallery and the Smithsonian are complying — so far, it seems — with Trump’s executive order to dismantle their DEI programs.

Race hustlers hoped the Smithsonian wouldn’t, since only half its money comes from Congress but it’s part of the Department of the Interior. The Smithsonian’s a DEI hotspot. In 2020, the Museum of African American History, otherwise a joy, got nabbed red-handed pushing a “perils of whiteness” syllabus for teachers visiting the museum. “Self-reliance,” “hard work is the key to success,” “be polite,” and “the scientific method” were, we would have learned if we were visiting children, racist tropes. A small scandal ensued, though it should have been a big one. A coat of whitewash was applied, and DEI at the Smithsonian went from flamenco to waltz.