For Immediate Release: February 7, 2026 President Julie Kent, Florida NOW, president@flnow.org
Orlando, FL — The Florida National Organization for Women (FL NOW) condemns the Trump administration’s escalating intervention in the Smithsonian Institution, including federal reviews of exhibits, pressure to rewrite or remove content, and new oversight requirements that threaten the independence of the nation’s most important public museums.
According to public reporting, the administration has directed the Smithsonian to submit exhibit plans, wall text, object lists, and future programming for federal review, with the stated goal of ensuring that exhibits “reflect unity, progress, and American exceptionalism.” Smithsonian leadership has been warned that continued federal funding—approximately two‑thirds of the institution’s budget—depends on compliance.
“The Smithsonian exists to tell the truth about this country—its achievements, its contradictions, and its injustices,” said Julie Kent, President of FL NOW “Pressuring museums to sanitize or erase histories of slavery, colonialism, gender discrimination, and LGBTQ+ scapegoating undermines public education and threatens the integrity of our cultural institutions.”
The administration has reportedly identified 20 exhibits it considers objectionable, including those addressing slavery, colonialism, Native American history, LGBTQ history, and race in American art. These exhibits have been labeled “improper ideology” and flagged for revision or removal.
A recent executive order further requires the Smithsonian to eliminate or rewrite materials that highlight systemic racism, discuss oppression or conflict, present histories of enslavement or displacement, or critique U.S. policy or historical figures. The institution was given 120 days to revise exhibits under these criteria.
Additional federal directives include:
- Rolling submissions of exhibit materials for review
- Placement of federal liaison staff inside eight Smithsonian museums
- Pre‑approval of upcoming displays related to the nation’s 250th anniversary
Museum leaders have described the situation as “walking a tightrope” between professional standards and political pressure.
Changes have already occurred. The National Portrait Gallery altered its impeachment‑related display after White House objections, and multiple museums have been warned against presenting narratives that “portray America negatively.”
“This level of political intervention in public museums is deeply concerning,” Debbie Deland, VP of FL NOW. “Historical truth is not a threat to democracy—erasing it is. Communities across Florida, especially women, LGBTQ people, and communities of color, rely on honest public history to understand the past and shape a more just future. American needs to understand the horrible damage done starting with the unconscionable horror of slavery and the genocide of Native Americans, and the continued crimes not only in the US, but in US action worldwide. Hiding the truth means we can’t learn empathy and can’t learn to do radically better. This move is beyond disastrous and plays into white male supremacy.”
FL NOW notes that these actions are part of a broader federal effort to reshape cultural and educational institutions, including museums, national parks, universities, and arts organizations, under the banner of “restoring truth and sanity to American history.”
“Floridians deserve access to accurate, inclusive, and unmanipulated history,” FL NOW further stated. “We stand with museum professionals, educators, artists, and communities nationwide who are resisting political pressure to distort the historical record.”
FL NOW urges lawmakers, cultural leaders, and the public to defend the independence of the Smithsonian and all public institutions dedicated to education, research, and the preservation of history.
