The Steady Drip: Trump Admin Signals Possible Cuts to Federal Support for Smithsonian (Connecting the Dots: The Smithsonian, Nancy Pelosi, The National Museum of American History, The National Zoo, The LGBT Community & The Carnegie/Soros Network)

Trump Admin Signals Possible Cuts to Federal Support for Smithsonian (Connecting the Dots: The Smithsonian, Nancy Pelosi, The National Museum of American History, The National Zoo, The LGBT Community & The Carnegie/Soros Network)

Newsmax.com

Thursday, 03 September 2026 07:50 AM EDT

https://www.newsmax.com/us/trump-smithsonian-museums/2026/09/03/id/1268232/

President Donald Trump's administration has indicated it may cut federal agencies' support for the Smithsonian, marking the latest development in its dispute with the institution.

A letter by U.S. Interior Secretary Doug ‌Burgum and White House Domestic Policy Council Director Vince Haley to the Smithsonian's governing board said federal agencies "cannot in good conscience continue to support the Smithsonian under current leadership by, for example, loaning artifacts for exhibits, ⁠enabling procurement processes and making discretionary grants."

The Trump administration has also previously threatened to cut federal funding for the Smithsonian, with Trump expressing his displeasure with what ⁠he called the institution's excessive focus on how bad slavery was.

The Smithsonian is a vast museum and research complex and a premier exhibition space for U.S. history and culture, with 21 museums ‌and galleries and the National Zoo. It had no immediate comment on the letter.

Historians and civil rights advocates have criticized President Donald Trump’s actions toward the institution, saying such steps risk reversing social progress and undermining acknowledgment of critical phases of U.S. history.

Trump has also ordered that signs be installed outside the institution's National Museum of American History to reflect his administration's ⁠criticism of it and his ‌administration last year launched a review ⁠of some museums.

Smithsonian Institution Secretary Lonnie Bunch has said a White House report that accused the ⁠National ⁠Museum of American History of "thinly veiled anti-Americanism" and "extreme political activism" was an unfair characterization of its work.

The letter, dated ‌Friday, alleged the Smithsonian may have violated anti-discrimination laws through diversity practices and asked Smithsonian leadership to meet with the Trump administration to address its criticism.

Trump’s administration has moved to restrict diversity initiatives in the government and private sector and alleged such practices are discriminatory against white people and men. The crackdown has been condemned by civil rights advocates who say the initiatives address historic inequities for groups like ethnic minorities, the LGBT community and women.

The letter was reported earlier by the Atlantic.

Connecting the Dots:

National Zoo is a member institution of the Smithsonian Institution.

Mike Pence is a regent for the Smithsonian Institution and was the vice president for the Donald Trump Administration.

Joseph R. Biden Jr. is a regent at the Smithsonian Institution, was the vice president for the Barack Obama administration, the president for the Joe Biden Administration and spent Thanksgiving with David M. Rubenstein.

Evelyn S. Lieberman was Joseph R. Biden Jr’s press secretary and a communications director for the Smithsonian Institution.

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation was a funder for the Smithsonian Institution and the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank).

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder the Brookings Institution (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Shirley Ann Jackson is a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank) and a regent at the Smithsonian Institution.

David M. Rubenstein is a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank), a regent at the Smithsonian Institution, the president of the Economic Club of Washington, a board member for the National Museum of Natural History, Joe Biden spent Thanksgiving with him and was a partner at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP.

Jane Sullivan Roberts was a partner at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP and is married to John G. Roberts Jr.

Vernon E. Jordan Jr. was the president of the Economic Club of Washington, is an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank) and the president emeritus for the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club (Gainesville, VA),

John G. Roberts Jr. is an honorary member of the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club (Gainesville, VA), married to Jane Sullivan Roberts, the chief justice for the U.S. Supreme Court and the chancellor for the Smithsonian Institution.

Sandra Day O'Connor was an associate justice for the U.S. Supreme Court, a board member for the National Museum of Natural History and the president of the Alfalfa Club.

National Museum of Natural History is a member of the Smithsonian Institution.

John F.W. Rogers is a member of the Alfalfa Club and a board member for the National Museum of American History.

National Museum of American History is a member of the Smithsonian Institution.

Frederick J. Ryan Jr. is a board member for the National Museum of American History and was the president & CEO for Politico.

John F. Harris is the editor in chief for Politico and a trustee at the German Marshall Fund of the United States (think tank).

Karen Donfried was the EVP for German Marshall Fund of the United States (think tank) and the senior director for European affairs at the National Security Council for the Barack Obama administration.

Michael B.G. Froman was a fellow at the German Marshall Fund of the United States (think tank), an assistant to the president for the Barack Obama administration and is Barack Obama’s law school friend.

Gregory B. Craig is a trustee at the German Marshall Fund of the United States (think tank), was the White House counsel for the Barack Obama administration and a trustee at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank).

German Marshall Fund of the United States (think tank) was a funder for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank).

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) and the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank), the Center for American Progress and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) and the Center for American Progress.

George Soros is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations, was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society and was a supporter for the Center for American Progress.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) and the Center for American Progress.

Arcus Foundation was a funder for the Center for American Progress.

Kevin Jennings is an executive director for the Arcus Foundation, was the founder & executive director for the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network and the president & CEO for Be the Change.

Michelle Nunn was a board member for Be the Change and is Sam Nunn’s daughter.

Sam Nunn is Michelle Nunn’s father and a co-chairman & CEO for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank).

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) was a funder for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank).

Michael Douglas is a director at the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank) and a friend of George Soros.

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) and the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank), Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Ted Turner was a co-chairman for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank) and the chairman for the Turner Foundation.

Cecile Richards was a grant overseer for the Turner Foundation, the president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America and Nancy Pelosi’s deputy chief of staff.

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Planned Parenthood Federation of America.

George Soros is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations.

Bailouts for NASA, Smithsonian included in coronavirus package

By Ebony Bowden

Published March 26, 2020, 9:10 p.m. ET

https://nypost.com/2020/03/26/bailouts-for-nasa-smithsonian-included-in-coronavirus-package/

Some of the measures include a whopping $75 million in grants for state and regional arts organizations, a $7.5 million bailout for the Smithsonian Institution and $10 million for minority-owned business development.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi championed Democrat’s efforts on Thursday morning after the bill passed in the early hours of Wednesday following days of horse trading.

Nancy Pelosi’s deputy chief of staff was Cecile Richards, was invited to George Soros’s 2013 wedding reception, is the speaker & minority leader for the U.S. House of Representatives and Terri McCullough was her chief of staff.

Terri McCullough was Nancy Pelosi’s chief of staff and is married to Howard Wolfson.

Howard Wolfson is married to Terri McCullough and was a partner at the Glover Park Group.

Glover Park Group was the lobby firm for the Planned Parenthood Federation of America and the Open Society Policy Center.

Open Society Policy Center is an advocacy affiliate for the Open Society Foundations.

The Open Society Policy Center (OSPC) is a lobbying group associated with the Open Society Network and the Open Society Foundations, the principal advocacy philanthropic efforts of left-of-center financial billionaire George Soros.

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Planned Parenthood Federation of America and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank).

George Soros is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations and Nancy Pelosi was invited to his 2013 wedding reception.

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) was a funder for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank).

Michael Douglas is a director at the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank) and a friend of George Soros.

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) and the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Ted Turner was a co-chairman for the Nuclear Threat Initiative (think tank) and the chairman for the Turner Foundation.

Cecile Richards was a grant overseer for the Turner Foundation, the president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Nancy Pelosi’s deputy chief of staff and the founder & president of the America Votes.

National Education Association (NEA) is a national partner with America Votes.

Kevin Jennings was an assistant deputy secretary for the U.S. Department of Education and the founder & executive director for the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network.

John I. Wilson is a director at the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network and was an executive director for the National Education Association (NEA).

National Education Association (NEA) is a national partner with America Votes.

American Bridge 21st Century was a contributor for the National Education Association (NEA).

John Stocks is an executive director at the National Education Association (NEA) and the chairman of the Democracy Alliance.

Raben Group was the lobby firm for the National Education Association (NEA).

George Soros was a contributor for the American Bridge 21st Century, a member of the Democracy Alliance, a supporter for the Center for American Progress, is the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations.

Open Society Foundations was a funder for the Planned Parenthood Federation of America and the Center for American Progress.

Melody C. Barnes was a principal at the Raben Group, an EVP at the Center for American Progress, a domestic policy council, director for the Barack Obama administration and is Barack Obama’s golf partner.

Arcus Foundation was a funder for the Center for American Progress.

Kevin Jennings is an executive director for the Arcus Foundation and was the founder & executive director for the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder the Center for American Progress the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York and the founder of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank).

Gregory B. Craig was a trustee at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank), the White House counsel for the Barack Obama administration and is a trustee at the German Marshall Fund of the United States (think tank).

German Marshall Fund of the United States (think tank) was a funder for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank).

John F. Harris is a trustee at the German Marshall Fund of the United States (think tank) and the editor in chief for Politico.

Frederick J. Ryan Jr. was the president & CEO for Politico and is a board member for the National Museum of American History.

National Museum of American History is a member of the Smithsonian Institution.

John F.W. Rogers is a board member for the National Museum of American History and a member of the Alfalfa Club.

Sandra Day O'Connor was a board member for the National Museum of Natural History, the president of the Alfalfa Club and an associate justice for the U.S. Supreme Court.

National Museum of Natural History is a member of the Smithsonian Institution.

John G. Roberts Jr. is the chancellor for the Smithsonian Institution, the chief justice for the U.S. Supreme Court, married to Jane Sullivan Roberts and an honorary member of the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club (Gainesville, VA).

Vernon E. Jordan Jr. is the president emeritus for the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club (Gainesville, VA), an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank) and was the president of the Economic Club of Washington.

Jane Sullivan Roberts is married to John G. Roberts Jr. and was a partner at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP.

David M. Rubenstein was a partner at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, Joe Biden spent Thanksgiving with him, is a regent at the Smithsonian Institution, a board member for the National Museum of American History, a board member for the National Museum of Natural History, the president of the Economic Club of Washington and is a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

National Museum of Natural History is a member of the Smithsonian Institution.

National Museum of American History is a member of the Smithsonian Institution.

Shirley Ann Jackson is a regent at the Smithsonian Institution and a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation was a funder for the Smithsonian Institution and the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder the Brookings Institution (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank).

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank) and the Smithsonian Institution.

Konrad Ng was a director, Asian Pacific American Center for the Smithsonian Institution and is married to Maya Soetoro-Ng.

Maya Soetoro-Ng is married to Konrad Ng and is Barack Obama’s sister.

Barack Obama is Maya Soetoro-Ng’s brother, the president for the Barack Obama administration and an intern at Sidley Austin LLP.

Joseph R. Biden Jr. is the vice president for the Barack Obama administration, and a regent at the Smithsonian Institution.

National Museum of American History is a member of the Smithsonian Institution.

Michelle Obama is the first lady for the Barack Obama administration and was a lawyer at Sidley Austin LLP.

R. Eden Martin is counsel at Sidley Austin LLP and the president of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

Newton N. Minow is a senior counsel at Sidley Austin LLP, a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago and an honorary trustee at the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Andrew Carnegie was the founder of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Carnegie Corporation of New York was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank) and a supporter for the American Society for Muslim Advancement.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank).

George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank) and the Smithsonian Institution.

Cyrus F. Freidheim Jr. is an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank) and a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

Robert S. Osborne is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago and the EVP & general counsel for Booz Allen Hamilton.

James C. Weinberg is a VP for Booz Allen Hamilton and a director at the Friends of the National Zoo.

Friends of the National Zoo is a support organization for the National Zoo.

National Zoo is a member institution of the Smithsonian Institution.

James C. Weinberg is a director at the Friends of the National Zoo and a VP for Booz Allen Hamilton.

Edward Snowden was an employee at Booz Allen Hamilton and leaked information about the National Security Agency (NSA).

Booz Allen Hamilton is a contractor for the National Security Agency (NSA).

Cyrus F. Freidheim Jr. was a managing director at Booz Allen Hamilton, is an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank) and a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

Robert S. Osborne is the EVP & general counsel for Booz Allen Hamilton and a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.

Valerie B. Jarrett is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, the senior adviser for the Barack Obama administration and her great uncle is Vernon E. Jordan Jr.

Vernon E. Jordan Jr. is Valerie B. Jarrett’s great uncle, an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank), the president emeritus for the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club (Gainesville, VA) and was the president of the Economic Club of Washington.

John G. Roberts Jr. is an honorary member of the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club (Gainesville, VA), the chief justice for the U.S. Supreme Court, married to Jane Sullivan Roberts and the chancellor for the Smithsonian Institution.