Trump targets Biden-era billion-dollar Smithsonian budgets amid anti-'woke' push

President Donald Trump's effort to remake the Smithsonian is reaching the institution's bottom line, with the administration proposing its smallest budget request in years while pushing to eliminate what it calls "woke" ideology from federally funded museums and programs.A Fox News Digital analysis of Smithsonian budget requests found the institution submitted steadily larger funding requests during the Biden administration, with annual requests rising from $1.11 billion in fiscal year 2021 to a record $1.24 billion in fiscal year 2024.The fiscal year 2025 request also exceeded $1 billion before the Trump administration proposed reducing the institution's request below that threshold in its fiscal year 2026 and 2027 budgets—the first time since fiscal year 2020 that the Smithsonian's annual request has fallen below $1 billion.The proposed funding reduction comes as the White House expands one of its most ambitious efforts to reshape a federally funded cultural institution, arguing the Smithsonian has promoted ideological narratives at odds with its mission and directing it to change its exhibits, programming, leadership and spending priorities.FORMER DEMOCRATIC STAFFERS, DEI LEADERS SHAPE SMITHSONIAN LEADERSHIP AMID POLITICAL FIRESTORMPresident Donald Trump launched a sweeping White House review of the Smithsonian, arguing the institution had promoted "divisive" ideological narratives.(Maxine Wallace/The Washington Post/Getty Images)The White House's effort to root out what it calls "woke" ideology at the Smithsonian has grown into one of the most extensive reviews of the institution in decades.Over the past 16 months, the administration has examined museum exhibits, educational programming, internal records and leadership statements, issued multiple document requests, interviewed curators and conducted on-site museum walkthroughs.That review culminated in a 162-page White House report recommending sweeping reforms and a new round of executive actions aimed at im...

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