Response and Resistance
MUSEUMS STEP FORWARD.
A Headspinning Time
You’d be forgiven for having museum whiplash after the last few weeks. On May 30, 2025, President Donald Trump fired Kim Sajet, Director of the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery, for being “a very partisan person” who championed DEI. Then it was reported that Sajet was at her desk daily in an apparent message to Trump: the President does not control Smithsonian personnel. How would Trump retaliate? On June 9, Secretary Lonnie Bunch and the Smithsonian Board of Regents (which includes the Vice President and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court) met, later issuing a statement clearly affirming the sole authority of the Secretary and Regents to make all personnel decisions. A collective sigh of relief: proper order had been restored. At the end of the week Sajet resigned, announcing that it was in the interests of the institution. Was her resignation the price exacted for the Smithsonian’s statement of authority? Did it serve to call that authority into question?We may never know. And what impact will this apparent assertion of state authority have on cultural institutions around the country? We welcome your comments.
Regaining Some Equilibrium
At the same time, museums are beginning to gather and organize. Three examples:
June 6, 2025: a webinar on resistance
Some 100 museum representatives participated in a webinar described in our last post: How Do Museums Resist? organized by MuseumExpert.org
Panelists included museum directors Ann Burroughs and Neil Barclay, who have reaffirmed their institutions’ commitment to DEI, and have withstood funding cuts; museum studies professors Stephanie Brown and Barry Joseph sharing their views on educating new professionals during this stressful time; and Gretchen Jennings, describing the origins of Museums Act Together as a source of information and solidarity. In fact, a key message of the afternoon was the absolute need for solidarity. Solidarity is active and intentional. It does not simply appear; it must be built. Stay tuned for further information on a class action suit organized by some of our colleagues.
You can find a recording of the hour-long program on YouTube:
June 17, 2025: A 90 minute workshop, Braver Together: Strengthening Civil and Human Rights
Linda Norris, Stacey Garcia, and Braden Paynter shared “frameworks, practical tools, and stories to inspire bravery in cultural workers.” Attended by almost 50 registrants, both national and international, the workshop was not recorded, but will produce printed materials for the attendees.
June 17, 2025 AASLH announces targeted initiative: Executive Insight Circle
“It’s lonely at the top. History is under attack, and rules are changing by the day. This new program...is designed to meet this moment,” says facilitator Andrea K Jones.
AASLH Director of Research and Strategic Initiatives John Marks continues, We're launching a new program at American Association for State and Local History (AASLH)! I'm super excited for our new "Executive Insight Circle," which will expand the offerings under AASLH's History Leadership Institute. Led by HLI Director Andrea K. Jones, the Executive Insight Circle (EIC) is a cohort-based community and learning opportunity for executives (CEOs, Executive Directors, etc.) at history organizations. Through monthly virtual meetings and regular conversation in between, a group of 10-12 leaders will engage in structured problem solving, mutual support, and conversation about the biggest issues facing the field….
For this first year, the cohort is limited to leaders of mid-sized to large organizations. Applications are due July 15. Please spread the word!
https://lnkd.in/ehuMja8T
As promised in our opening post - we want to share information on defunding and censorship at the federal, state, and local level. Here is the latest for the month of June (note that a couple of the links shared predate June):
State-by-State Censorship and Defunding of Cultural Institutions
Overview
Since June 1, 2025, there has been a marked escalation in both censorship and defunding of cultural institutions across the United States, driven by actions from state legislatures, governors, and federal directives. The most significant impacts have been felt through the withdrawal of federal and state funding, the cancellation of grants, and direct censorship of exhibitions and programs in museums, libraries, and arts organizations.
Federal Actions Affecting States
National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and Humanities (NEH): In early June, the Trump administration continued its policy of terminating grants and eliminating these agencies, resulting in the abrupt cancellation of funding for thousands of organizations in every state, including state arts councils, museums, libraries, and historic sites
Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS): The proposed 2026 federal budget plans to defund the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), with an allocation of only $6 million for the year. This allocation would be used to close the agency at the beginning of 2026.
State-Level Censorship and Defunding
California
Governor and Local Cuts: In May, Governor Gavin Newsom announced the reversion of $11.5 million in arts funding, compounding local cuts in cities like Oakland and San Francisco. Dozens of local arts organizations lost grants, and the San Francisco Arts Commission faces a major budget reduction.
Texas
Economic Censorship: Austin arts organizations, including the Austin Theatre Alliance, lost NEA grants due to new federal rules. The city’s Office of Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment reported the loss of a $75,000 grant for a major community arts initiative, with officials calling the move “economic censorship”.
Pennsylvania
Statewide Impact: Pennsylvania’s humanities and arts organizations have been hit by the elimination of NEH, NEA, and IMLS funding, with local libraries, museums, and youth programs facing severe cutbacks. The state’s cultural infrastructure is described as being “defunded” at an unprecedented scale.
New York
Museum Censorship: The Whitney Museum in New York suspended its Independent Study Program after controversy over the cancellation of a pro-Palestinian event, sparking protests and accusations of censorship tied to political and donor pressure9.
Indiana
Exhibition Censorship: The Newfields museum in Indianapolis faced accusations of censorship after pulling politically charged artworks, with curators and artists reporting increased pressure to avoid controversial topics due to fear of funding cuts and political backlash.
Legal and Advocacy Developments
GAO Findings: The Government Accountability Office found that withholding funds from IMLS violated the Impoundment Control Act, but enforcement remains uncertain, and many state-level institutions continue to face funding shortfalls.
We welcome your comments and questions. And please share with colleagues!