President Donald Trump's administration has proposed reducing the Smithsonian Institution's federal funding below $1 billion for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, marking the first time since 2020 that the institution's budget request has fallen under that threshold. This move follows a period of steadily increasing budget requests during the Biden administration, which rose from $1.11 billion in fiscal year 2021 to a record $1.24 billion in fiscal year 2024, according to a Fox News Digital analysis.

The Smithsonian, which oversees 21 museums, the National Zoo, and nearly 157 million objects and specimens, receives over $1 billion annually in federal funding alongside private donations and other revenue. However, the Trump administration is seeking to reshape the institution by eliminating what it describes as "woke" ideology from federally funded museums and programs.

Over the past 16 months, the administration has conducted an extensive review of the Smithsonian's exhibits, educational programming, internal records, and leadership statements. This investigation included multiple document requests, curator interviews, and on-site museum walkthroughs. The effort culminated in a 162-page White House report recommending sweeping reforms and new executive actions to implement these changes.

The Smithsonian has faced scrutiny for promoting racial reparations and for a 2020 infographic criticizing "white culture." A congressional hearing further intensified debate over the museum's displays and their historical accuracy, highlighting growing tensions over the institution's direction.

Alongside executive orders and museum reviews, the budget proposal signals the administration's intent to use both policy and federal funding to influence one of the nation's largest cultural institutions.

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