Fact check
“Interior Secretary Doug Burgum sent a letter to the Smithsonian’s Board of Regents in late August 2025 declaring that other federal agencies cannot in good conscience continue to support the Smithsonian under current leadership.”
Reasoning
The provided ProPublica article includes the specific statement that Interior Secretary Doug Burgum sent a letter in late August 2025 declaring that other federal agencies cannot in good conscience continue to support the Smithsonian under its current leadership. This directly confirms the claim.
On confidence: Two excerpts from a reputable investigative source (ProPublica) directly mention Interior Secretary Doug Burgum sending a letter in late August 2025 to the Smithsonian’s Board of Regents with the quoted language.
Important context
The letter is part of a broader political dispute over the Smithsonian’s exhibits, and the article notes the museum’s reliance on federal funding, which contextualizes the significance of the claim.
Evidence
Supporting (2)
- Tier 1 — Primary sourceHow the Smithsonian Became Target of Trump’s Culture War — ProPublica
on the report, where Republican members took turns lambasting the museum’s director, Anthea Hartig, and forcing her to answer questions about exhibit items such as a “chrome and rubber crotch harness” designed for sadomasochistic sex. That…
- Tier 1 — Primary sourceHow the Smithsonian Became Target of Trump’s Culture War — ProPublica
in good conscience continue to support the Smithsonian under current leadership.” The Smithsonian is independent of the executive branch, governed by a 17-member board led by the chief justice of the Supreme Court and with six members of…
Limitations
The evidence is limited to excerpts from a single article; the full text of the letter is not provided, and no additional independent verification (e.g., official government release) is available within the supplied sources.
- Last verified:
- Sep 27, 2026, 4:18 AM CDT
- Pipeline:
- 2.1.0
- Claim type:
- Factual
Where this claim appeared
How the Smithsonian Became the Latest Front in Trump’s Culture WarProPublica · Alec MacGillis