Today, U.S. Senator John Cornyn criticized the Smithsonian Institution Museums for what he described as political bias and deviation from their mission. On the Senate floor, Sen. Cornyn expressed concern that the museums have shifted focus away from celebrating American contributions to history.
“The 21 museums that make up the Smithsonian Institution have been a treasure for a long time, but unfortunately in recent years, they have strayed from their true mission,” he said.
Sen. Cornyn claimed that instead of highlighting remarkable Americans or educating about historical wildlife, the museums are now addressing topics like climate change in ways he considers inappropriate for children. He also criticized the exclusion of certain figures from exhibits.
“But sometimes it’s not what the Smithsonian includes in their exhibits – which is troubling – it’s what they choose to exclude,” he remarked, referencing an incident involving Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas’s omission from an exhibit at the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
Cornyn highlighted his previous efforts to have Justice Thomas recognized, saying, “I introduced a resolution at the time asking them to recognize the historical importance of Justice Thomas and his service to the court.”
He also addressed debates about whether the Smithsonian is a government entity or independent. “It’s pretty hard to make the case that an institution that gets the majority of its funding from Congress and is governed by a board of government officials is anything but a government entity,” he stated.
Citing legal precedents such as Raven v. Sajet, Cornyn emphasized that courts have ruled in favor of considering the Smithsonian a government institution.
In anticipation of America’s 250th birthday celebration, Sen. Cornyn urged the Smithsonian to revisit its purpose: “I would encourage, strongly encourage, the Smithsonian Institution to reconsider its purpose and to return to the principles and ideals laid out in the founding documents they so proudly display for the benefit of all Americans.”
