Amy Sherald – Trans Forming Liberty (2024) (foto Hauser and Wirth |Kevin Bulluck)

The White House Denounces Smithsonian Art Works in On Line List

Law & Politics

Here S how the Trump Administration is drastically reshaping the arts landscape.

• Trump S second term policies aim to strip US arts funding, targeting NEA, IMLS, and public broadcasting.
• Cultural Institutions and artists reevaluate US partnerships amid rising political interference and restrictions on DEI programming.
• Lawsuits mount as the Department of Government Efficiency enforces sweeping changes across Federal Arts Agencies.

Since returning to The White House on January 20, President Donald Trump has signed more than 140 Executive Orders, 26 on day one alone, many of which have sent shockwaves through the art world. From sweeping restrictions on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives to deep cuts at key Federal Agencies, the effects are already reshaping how cultural Institutions and artists operate. At the center of this upheaval is the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, which has gutted agencies like the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and imposed aggressive oversight on Institutions such as the Smithsonian.

Meanwhile, abrupt policy shifts are rippling through logistics and trade, prompting shifting how art dealers, auction houses, and other art market actors both in the US and abroad to rethink their business strategies.

These moves aren T just symbolic, they re transforming the infrastructure of American culture. Experts say we are entering uncharted territory. “There is No Precedent for the Moment We Are In,” said Marilyn Jackson, President of the American Alliance of Museums.

As Trump S second term unfolds, we re tracking the policies, flashpoints, and protests that are reshaping the arts landscape. Here S what you need to know so far.

For an overview of Trump S first 100 days in office, click Here.

August

August 21

Amy Sherald S ‘Trans Forming Liberty’ and Fauci Portrait Named in White House List of Offending Artworks

The White House continued targeting the Smithsonian Institution on Thursday, August 21, publishing A letter on its website titled “President Trump is Right about the Smithsonian.” The Epistle Simply Listed A Range of Artworks and Exhibitions across the Federal Museum Network that Display Images and Wording that the Trump Administration Disagrees with. It Included Previously Criticized Shows, such as ASmithsonian American Art Museum Exhibition about Sculptures as Signifiers of Power and Displays at the National Museum of African American History and Culture Referencing “White Dominant Culture.”

Also named were specific artworks, including Rigoberto A González S Refugees Crossing the Border Wall into South Texas (2022) and Amy Sherald S painting of A Black trans woman as the Statue of Liberty, which was never actually shown at the National Portrait Gallery since the artist canceled her traveling survey after Museum Staff allegedly advised her not to include the work. The National Portrait Gallery was further criticized for commissioning A stop motion portrait of Anthony Fauci.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CAsiSyUhYpg/

Other targets included A papier mâché Statue of Liberty holding A tomato, shown in the National Museum of American History, and A 2023 National Museum of African Art show focused on the fictional Afro futurist kingdom of Drexciya. Wall texts from the National Museum of the American Latino and LGBTQ+ content at the National Museum of American History were also condemned.

It marked the second time that week the Trump Administration publicly attacked the Smithsonian and Museum programming on the whole. On Monday, the President posted on Truth Social stating Museums are the “Last Remaining Segment of WOKE.” Earlier in August, The White House issued A statement ordering several Smithsonian institutions to comply with A comprehensive review of their exhibitions and programming ahead of the US S 250th anniversary to ensure alignment with President Trump S vision of American history. MC

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Amy Sherald Pulls Smithsonian Show Over Censorship Concerns

August 19

Trump Extends ‘Woke’ Criticism to Museums Beyond the Smithsonian

President Donald Trump has escalated his criticism of the Smithsonian Institution, expanding it to include Museums nationwide, which he described as the “Last Remaining Segment of WOKE.” The statement, shared on his social media platform Truth Social, follows A statement from The White House last week confirming plans to audit eight Smithsonian Museums to ensure alignment with the President S March Executive Order, “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History.” The audit requires exhibition reviews, program planning oversight, and potential content adjustments.

Trump accused the Smithsonian of presenting only negative narratives of US history, focusing on slavery and oppression, and how “Unaccomplished the Downtrodden Have Been” while ignoring America’s “Success” and “Brightness.” He vowed to apply the same strategies his Administration has used to attack universities, targeting research funding and tax exempt status, among other tactics, to Museums across the country.

“This Country Can Not Be WOKE, because WOKE IS BROKE,” the President wrote. We have the “HOTTEST Country in the World, and We Want People to Talk about It, Including in Our Museums.”

The crackdown on Smithsonian Museum programming has sparked backlash from professional associations, including the American Alliance of Museums, which said “This is Not Just A Concern for Select Institutions” in an August 15 statement. “These Pressures can Create A Chilling Effect across the Entire Museum Sector. Freedom of thought and expression are foundational American Values, and Museums Uphold them by Creating Spaces Where People can Engage with History, Science, Art, and Culture in Ways that Are Honest, Fact Based, and Thought Provoking.” MC

August 12

Smithsonian Museums Face Large Scale White House Review Ahead of America S 250th Anniversary

The White House will conduct A comprehensive review of Smithsonian exhibitions, materials, and operations ahead of the US S 250th anniversary to ensure alignment with President Trump S vision of American history. In A letter to Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch, senior officials outlined plans to assess public text, online content, curatorial processes, collection use, and artist grants, aiming to emphasize “Unity, Progress, and Enduring Values” and remove “Divisive or Partisan Narratives.”

“By Focusing on Americanism, the People, Principles, and Progress that Define Our Nation, We Can Work Together to Renew the Smithsonian S Role as the World S Leading Museum Institution,” reads the letter, which was signed by Lindsey Halligan, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Associate Staff Decretary, Vince Haley, Director of the Domestic Policy Council, and Russell Vought, Director of the Office of Management and Budget.

The White House letter instructs each Smithsonian Museum to, within 30 days, submit requested exhibition materials and plans, designate A staff liaison, coordinate with curators on America 250 programming, and prepare for on site visits to review current displays, themes, and visitor experience. Within 120 days, Museums must start revising exhibits to replace divisive or ideologically driven language with “Unifying, Historically Accurate, and Constructive Descriptions” across all public facing materials.

Initially, the review will focus on the National Portrait Gallery, Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Smithsonian American Art Museum, National Museum of African American History and Culture, National Museum of the American Indian, National Museum of American History, National Museum of Natural History, and the National Air and Space Museum. These Institutions are all located in Washington, DC, where Trump just instituted A Federal takeover, deploying the National Guard and taking control of the City S Police Department amid claims of widespread crime. Additional Museums and Institutions will be examined in phase two of the review, according to the letter.

The Smithsonian is comprised of 21 Museums, 14 education and research centers, and the National Zoo. The review reflects the Trump Administration S broader efforts to reframe cultural Institutions and follows the National Museum of American History S change to its descriptions of Trump S two impeachments in exhibition texts earlier this month. White House Representative Halligan said that the goal of the review is to keep Museums “Accurate, Patriotic, and Enlightening.” In A statement to the Wall Street Journal, the Smithsonian affirmed its commitment to scholarly rigor and factual accuracy, and said it is reviewing the letter in consultation with its Board of Regents, which includes Vice President JD Vance. MC

Read More
Can Trump Really Control the Smithsonian? Here S What We Know

August 8

Smithsonian Softens Description of Trump S Impeachments at American History Museum

The Smithsonian S National Museum of American History has updated its exhibit text on President Donald Trump S impeachments, altering language in descriptions of both proceedings. For the second impeachment, in 2021, the text now states he was impeached for “Incitement of Insurrection Based on His Challenge of the 2020 Election Results and on His Speech on January 6,” and notes he was acquitted after leaving office. Previously, it said he had “Repeated ‘False Statements’” that “Foreseeably Resulted in” violence. The description of his 2019 impeachment now cites “Alleged” solicitation of foreign interference, according to the New York Times. 

The new text replaces A 2021 temporary label that included details about the impeachments of Andrew Johnson, Bill Clinton, and Richard Nixon, as well as Trump. The update also marks A shift in how the Institution presents politically sensitive topics, amid heightened scrutiny over potential political influence on Smithsonian programming. MC

August 4

Smithsonian to Revise Exhibit After Quietly Removing Trump Impeachment Placard

The Smithsonian Institution says it will “Update” A display from the National Museum of American History following reports that A placard added to the display in 2021, which had mentioned President Donald Trum S two prior impeachments alongside those of Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton, was removed. The removal returned the display to its 2008 iteration, which noted “Only Three Presidents Have Seriously Faced Removal.”

As the keeper of memory for the nation, it is our privilege and responsibility to tell accurate and complete histories. As has been recently reported, in July, a placard was removed from @amhistorymuseum’s exhibit “The American Presidency: A Glorious Burden.”  The intent of the…

— Smithsonian (@smithsonian) August 2, 2025

The Smithsonian wrote in an official statement posted to X that no Administration or Government official had asked it to remove content from the display, but that it had removed the placard because it “Did Not Meet the Museum S Standards in Appearance, Location, Timeline, and Overall Presentation,” and it “Blocked the View of the Objects inside the Case.” The Institution stated that the presentation “Will Be Updated in the Coming Weeks to Reflect All Impeachment Proceedings in Our Nation S History.” MC

July

July 31

Smithsonian Drops Trump Impeachment References From Museum Display

The Smithsonian S National Museum of American History has removed references to former President Donald Trump’s two impeachments from A display. A temporary label referencing the impeachments of Trump and other former Presidents had been in place since September 2021.

The change comes amid broader concerns about political interference at the Smithsonian and growing unease over how the Institution tasked with preserving American history may be influenced by efforts from the Trump Administration to assert greater control over its content.

According to the Washington Post, which first reported the news, the label was removed in July as part of A broader review of the Institution S content for bias. A Museum Official said the review was connected to pressure from The White House to remove the Director of the National Portrait Gallery. After the story broke, the Smithsonian released A statement confirming that A revised exhibit will eventually include all Presidential impeachments. A spokesperson emphasized that the original label was always intended to be temporary while A more permanent update was under development.

As of now, the exhibition “The American Presidency, A Glorious Burden” features artifacts related to the impeachments of Andrew Johnson, Richard Nixon, and Bill Clinton, but offers little information on Donald Trump S two impeachments. While the exhibit S online companion briefly mentions Trump, the collection includes only one related item: an “Impeach Trump” protest button from 2017.  MC

July 22

US Withdraws from UNESCO for the Second Time as a New Bill Aims to Ban ‘Wokeness’ in Museums

The US said it will withdraw from UNESCO by the end of 2026, according to A State Department announcement on Tuesday, July 22, citing the organization S promotion of “Divisive Social and Cultural Causes” and its alignment with UN Sustainable Development Goals. State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said continued participation is “Not in the National Interest,” aligning the move with the Trump Administration S “America First” foreign policy.

It S not the first time the US has pulled back from the organization. Trump cut ties with it in 2017 during his first term, Biden reversed the decision in 2023. Previously, under the Obama Administration, the US had pulled UNESCO funding in response to its decision to grant full membership to Palestine.

UNESCO oversees 1.200 World Heritage Sites globally, including 26 in the US, and is responsible for protecting those at risk and designating new cultural landmarks. In A statement, UNESCO Director General Audrey Azoulay said the US withdrawal will have minimal financial impact, noting the nation contributes just 8 percent of the organization S budget, which relies more on voluntary contributions.

Still, the withdrawal has raised alarms, especially as the Trump Administration takes an increasingly authoritarian stance on cultural expression. Also on July 22, A new bill introduced by Senator Jim Banks, Republican, Indiana, seeks to ban the Smithsonian from promoting “Wokeness” and “Divisive Narratives.” It aims to codify A March Executive Order, “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,” promoting “Patriotic” interpretations of American history.

“The United States’ withdrawal from UNESCO Undermines One of the World S Leading Institutions Dedicated to Defending Artistic Freedom, Safeguarding Cultural Heritage, and Promoting Inclusive, Democratic Values,” said Julie Trébault, the Executive Director of Artists at Risk Connection, an international organization promoting artistic freedoms. She added that the Administration S pattern of hostility towards “Multi Lateral Institutions and the Cultural Sector at Large is Deeply Troubling,” and has already produced A “Chilling Effect” on creative expression and participation in culture. MC

July 1

Senate Passes “Big Beautiful Bill” that Includes $ 40 Million for Sculpture Garden, Strips Funding for Critical Social Services

On July 1, the US Senate narrowly approved A revised version of President Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill,” which include tax cuts for businesses and wealthy citizens, major spending cuts to social services like MedicAid and food stamps, increases to the national debt, and $ 40 million in funding for Trump S proposed National Garden of American Heroes. The sculpture garden initiative, listed on page 820 of the roughly 940 page bill, allocates funds from the beleaguered National Endowment for the Humanities’ 2025 budget to remain available through 2028.

The National Garden of Heroes has been A priority for Trump since his first term in office. It will showcase 250 life size statues honoring A rather random mix of influential figures from America S cultural, scientific, economic, and political history ranging from former Presidents George Washington and Abraham Lincoln to basketball star Kobe Bryant. Selected artists can receive up to $ 200,000 per statue, which must be crafted from traditional materials like marble, granite, bronze, copper, or brass and must be “Life Like” rather than abstract.

The bill now returns to the House of Representatives for final approval before potentially reaching Trump S desk by his July 4 deadline. MC

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Fine, Let S Argue About Trump S National Garden of American Heroes

June

June 16

Trump Administration Violated Law by Withholding Federal Museum and Library Funds, Watchdog Finds

A non partisan Government watchdog has found that the Trump Administration broke the law by withholding funding for the nation S museums and libraries. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) concluded that the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) ceased operations and withheld congressionally approved funds after Trump issued A directive in March aimed at reducing the federal bureaucracy.

This marks the second recent instance where oversight officials determined that the Administration unlawfully attempted to bypass Congress in reshaping federal spending to align with political goals, according to a New York Times report. Ethics officials deemed the funding delay an illegal impoundment, violating A 1970 S law designed to prevent the executive branch from overriding Congress S power of the purse. The White House, however, argues that these legal limits on Presidential Authority are unconstitutional, with Trump and his Budget Chief, Russell Vought, openly challenging them as part of broader efforts to reorganize Government spending. The finding sets the stage for A potential legal clash over executive power and fiscal control. MC

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Trump Administration Sued Over Gutting of Institute of Museum and Library Services

June 1

National Portrait Gallery Director Steps Down

Kim Sajet has stepped down as Director of the Smithsonian S National Portrait Gallery (NPG), the museum confirmed via email. Her resignation comes shortly after President Donald Trump claimed on social media that he had fired her on May 30. The decision follows A closed door meeting by the Smithsonian S Board of Regents, where Sajet S role was reportedly discussed, though no official actions were announced, according to The Washington Post. Kevin Gover, the Smithsonian S Under Secretary for Museums and Culture, will take over as acting director.

Appointed in 2013, Sajet became the NPG S first female Director and brought a focus on diversity and contemporary relevance to the museum S programming. Under her leadership, the Institution launched the Portrait of a Nation Awards, introduced the Identify performance series, expanded its podcast offerings, and reopened the America S Presidents Gallery in 2018. She also oversaw growth in the museum S endowment and annual funding. “I Believe that Stepping Aside is the Best Way to Serve the Institution I Hold So Deeply in My Heart,” Sajet said in A statement shared over email, adding that she will remain A “Steadfast Champion” of the museum. MC

June 9

Smithsonian Says Staffing Decisions Are Made by Secretary Amid Stand Off with Trump

The Smithsonian Institution has pushed back against President Trump S recent claim that he fired National Portrait Gallery (NPG) Director Kim Sajet, clarifying in A statement that all staffing decisions are overseen by its Secretary and Board of Regents, not the President, although Trump, Sajet, and the NPG are not mentioned by name.

The statement immediately followed A quarterly meeting of the Board of Regents, including Vice President JD Vance, in which the President S alleged removal of Sajet was discussed. When Trump announced on May 30 that he had allegedly fired Sajet, he called her “A Highly Partisan Person, and A Strong Supporter of DEI, Which is Totally Inappropriate for Her Position.” Despite Trump S declaration, Sajet has continued to show up for work and conduct business since the announcement.

The White House S grievances against the Museum Director included concerns about wall texts mentioning Trump S impeachments, which the President deemed partisan. The controversy comes amid Trump S broader pattern of targeting cultural institutions. In its statement, the Smithsonian reiterated its non partisan status and commitment to unbiased content, although it indicated it would assess Museum Staff as needed to maintain this standard. “The Board of Regents is Committed to Ensuring that the Smithsonian is A Beacon of Scholarship Free from Political or Partisan Influence,” the statement said. “We Recognize that Our Institution Can and Must Do More to Further These Foundational Values.” MC

Read More
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June 2

Trump Replaces His Official Portrait

The White House released A new portrait of President Trump, replacing A controversial January photo that critics compared to his mugshot, released by Authorities in Georgia after he turned himself in for allegedly attempting to overturn the State S 2020 election results. Changing Presidential portraits this early in A term is rare, but Trump is renownedly image conscious. The new photo, shared on The White House S social media channels, shows Trump facing the camera directly with A neutral, unsmiling expression, wearing A blue suit and his signature red tie, against A dark background. The previous portrait featured unusual “Up Lighting,” which experts noted is uncommon and can create A sinister effect.

“In the New Portrait, the Lighting is More Natural but Still Dramatic,” Jeff Whetstone, Director of the Visual Arts Program at Princeton University, told NPR. He added that the lighting shows one side of the face more than the other, creating A “Duality,” similar to the famous 1941 portrait of UK Prime Minister Winston Churchill, as captured by Yousuf Karsh. The new portrait also does not include A US flag in the background, which has been customary for Presidential portraits since at least the 1970 S. MC

May

May 30

Trump Says He has Fired the Director of Smithsonian S National Portrait Gallery

President Trump announced Friday that he has fired Kim Sajet, the Director of the Smithsonian S National Portrait Gallery in Washington, DC. In A post on Truth Social about the dismissal, Trump called Sajet “A Highly Partisan Person, and A Strong Supporter of DEI,” adding that her successor would be named shortly. But, according to The Washington Post, it is unclear if the President can remove Sajet, given that senior level staffing decisions at the Smithsonian are overseen by its Secretary, Lonnie G Bunch III. Sajet was appointed to the Directorship in 2013 by the Smithsonian S then Secretary Wayne Clough; she was the first woman to serve in the role.

Her alleged dismissal follows Trump S March 28 Executive Order that targets funding for Smithsonian programs that he deems have “Promoted Narratives that Portray American and Western Values as Inherently Harmful and Oppressive.” Two weeks before the Executive Order, Kevin Young, Director of the Smithsonian Institution S National Museum of African American History and Culture, was placed on indefinite leave. MC

May 29

Judge Blocks Trump From Barring Foreign Students at Harvard, for Now

A Federal Judge in Boston announced that she plans to halt President Trump S attempt to bar Harvard from enrolling international students, A key component of the Administration S broader push to challenge the University S finances and international reach.

The Administration S recent threats to revoke Harvard S certification to enroll international students sparked concern at Art Schools heavily reliant on foreign enrollees. Many US Art Institutions have significant international student bodies, with Chinese students making up the largest share, followed by South Korea, India, and Canada, according to A June 2 report by ArtNews. For example, the School of Visual Arts in New York has an international student body of 50 percent, while Parsons School of Design has 35 percent, and California Institute of the Arts has 30 percent. These numbers have surged over the past two decades as declining public funding has pushed universities to rely more on full paying international students. MC

May 13

Trump Fires Head of US Copyright Office Following Report on AI and Copyright Infringement

Shira Perlmutter, Head of the US Copyright Office, was pink slipped over the weekend, just days after publishing A report about how the development of Artificial Intelligence could violate Copyright Law, according to The Washington Post. Published earlier this month, the report, titled “Copyright and Artificial Intelligence (3) Generative AI Training,” questioned whether uses of Copyrighted material to train AI programs could be allowed under the Fair Use doctrine of Copyright Law, which allows some unauthorized use of Copyrighted material, for example if the new use is “Transformative” or does not infringe on the market for the Copyrighted material.

“Several Stages in the Development of Generative AI Involve Using Copyrighted Works in Ways that implicate the owners’ exclusive rights,” the report said. “The Key Question (…) is Whether Those Acts of Prima Facie Infringement Can Be Excused as Fair Use.” It concluded that “Government Intervention would Be Premature at This Time.”

Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, Head of the Cost Cutting Department of Government Efficiency and Founder of AI form xAI, has spoken out on the issues treated in the report. Last month, the Post noted, in A response to an X post that read “Delete All IP law,” Musk wrote, “I Agree.” BB

May 8

Dutch Museum Rethinks Lending Artworks to US Museums, Citing Drastic Funding Cuts

The Maurits Huis Museum in The Hague, home to masterpieces like Vermeer S Girl With A Pearl Ear Ring and Rembrandt’s The Anatomy Lesson, is reconsidering lending artworks to US Museums due to instability caused by President Trump S funding cuts and ideological mandates. Director Martine Gosselink cited increasing political interference in US Museum operations and concerns over Staff reductions, which could compromise the care and presentation of loaned works. Longstanding Trans Atlantic partnerships are now at risk, she told The Guardian, adding that while future loans aren T ruled out, her team will require “Firm Guarantees” to proceed. MC

May 6

Trump Taps Ex NEA Chair as Agency Battles Budget Cuts

Mary Anne Carter, who led the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) during Trump S first term, has been nominated to head the Agency again amid mounting turmoil. The nomination follows Trump S renewed proposal to eliminate the NEA and recent decisions to rescind millions in grants, prompting several Senior Officials to resign. According to the New York Times, which first reported the news on May 8, Carter was seen by many as A stabilizing figure in her previous appointment, during which time she helped the Agency survive elimination efforts thanks to bi partisan Congressional support. She described returning to the NEA as “Coming Home” and emphasized her belief that all Americans should have access to the arts. MC

May 6

Judge Grants Preliminary Injunction in Favor of IMLS

US District Chief Judge John J McConnell Jr granted A preliminary injunction blocking President Trump S attempt to dismantle the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and other Congressionally Mandated Government Agencies. The ruling, in response to A lawsuit filed in April by 21 State Attorneys Generals, stated that Trump S March 17 executive order, “Continuing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy,” “Violates the Administrative Procedures Act in the Arbitrary and Capricious Way it was Carried Out.” The judge also said it “Disregards the Fundamental Constitutional Role of Each of the Branches of Our Federal Government,” specifically, that Congress makes the law and appropriates funds, and the Executive implements the law Congress enacted and spends the funds Congress appropriated. The AG S’ suit also aimed to defend the Minority Business Development Agency and the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service. BB

May 5

Numerous NEA Grants Terminated Following Trump S Proposal to Nix Agency 

Numerous Arts Organizations have had grants withdrawn following A sweeping White House budget request which proposes eliminating the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). The affected groups include the Berkeley Repertory Theatre in California, the Portland Playhouse and Eugene Symphony in Oregon, Open Studio Project in Chicago, the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco, and the arts publication N+1. The grantees received termination emails that stated that the NEA was “Updating Its Grantmaking Policy Priorities to Focus Funding on Projects that Reflect the Nation S Rich Artistic Heritage and Creativity as Prioritized by the President,” according to NPR. This round of cancelations follow the NEA S updating of its grant guidelines in February, which terminated awards under its Challenge America program. In April, the NEH, which has seen A 70 – 80 percent reduction in its Staff, canceled more than A thousand grants. MC

Read more
All the Arts Organizations Impacted by NEA Funding Cuts

May 1

Trump Strips Funding for Public Broadcasting

President Trump has signed an Executive Order to end Federal funding for National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), which he has repeatedly accused of both left wing bias and undermining journalistic independence since his first term. The order instructs the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to halt funding, citing coverage on trans issues and COVID 19, among others topics, as justification. PBS CEO Paula Kerger called the move “Blatantly Unlawful” and vowed to fight it. Trump S push to defund public media aligns with long standing conservative goals and has significant implications for arts and culture in the US. Both Public Broadcasters play A critical role in supporting arts education and access to the humanities. Shows like PBS News Hour, Great Performances, and American Masters, along with NPR S extensive arts coverage, help amplify artists’ voices, support local culture, and provide free, nationwide access to the arts. MC

May 1

Legal Pressure Mounts Over DOGE S Arts Cuts

A new lawsuit filed Thursday, May 1, claims that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has hollowed out the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) through aggressive cost cutting. The lawsuit, brought by the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS), the American Historical Association (AHA), and the Modern Language Association (MLA), argues that DOGE, its Operatives, and the NEH violated the Administrative Procedure Act and the US Constitution. The NEH, A Federal Agency supporting historical and cultural Institutions and initiatives, has allegedly failed to justify its drastic changes, they claim. Meanwhile, A District Court Judge overseeing the case on DOGE S dismantling of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) indicated in Court that he is likely to block the Trump Administration S efforts, according to Washington, DC S WUSA9. MC

Read more
Legal Resistance Grows Against DOGE Cuts to Cultural Agencies

April

April 30

State Department Calls for Venice Biennale Proposals Emphasizing “American Values”

The US Government has opened applications for the 2026 Venice Biennale Pavilion under new Trump era guidelines emphasizing “American Values” and “Exceptionalism,” while banning any programming tied to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). According to Vanity Fair, which first reported the news on May 2, applicants face A compressed timeline, with selections due September 1, just eight months before the exhibition opens. In previous years, the $ 375.000 grant application has usually gone live about 18 months prior to the Biennale S opening. The artist proposal for the 2024 Biennale, which featured the works of Cherokee Choctaw artist Jeffrey Gibson, had been selected by July of 2023. The US State Department S new proposal requirements also demand applicants explain how their projects will serve US interests and demonstrate “American Exceptionalism and Innovation.” The embattled National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), which is responsible for convening the panel of proposal reviewers. MC

April 30

Biden Appointees Booted from Holocaust Museum Board

President Trump has removed several Bidene a appointees from the US Holocaust Memorial Museum S Advisory Board, including Doug Emhoff, husband of former Vice President Kamala Harris. Other dismissed Members include Ron Klain, Tom Perez, Susan Rice, and Anthony Bernal, according to the New York Times. Emhoff criticized the move as politicizing Holocaust remembrance. The shake-up follows Trump S history of controversial remarks about Neo Nazis and right wing extremists, as also seen making A Nazi salute earlier this year. The White House said Trump will appoint new Members who support Holocaust remembrance and the State of Israel. MC

This story was last updated on Friday, August 22 at 4:00 AM ET.

Margaret Carrigan (MC) & Brian Boucher (BB)

Margaret Carrigan
News Editor

Brian Boucher
Contributor

Artnet News, August 22, 2025

https://news.artnet.com/art-world/trump-arts-impact-2639197

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