Heritage Foundation lawyer urges overhaul of Smithsonian history museum leadership
Heritage Foundation senior fellow Cully Stimson criticized the National Museum of American History’s exhibits as overly self-critical and called for the removal of its director, Anthea Hartig.
Cully Stimson, senior legal fellow at the Heritage Foundation and former Washington, D.C., assistant U.S. attorney, condemned the National Museum of American History for presenting a “self-loathing” view of the nation’s past. He claimed the museum’s exhibits emphasize oppression and reparations, sidelining chronological accounts of triumphs and the constitutional amendments that ended slavery. Stimson demanded that Director Anthea Hartig step down immediately, citing her perceived smugness during recent congressional hearings.
The criticism follows a July 2026 White House report and two contentious hearings that placed Hartig under national scrutiny. Museum officials assert the institution is nonpartisan and does not take sides in political debates. The Heritage Foundation’s call reflects broader concerns among conservatives about perceived left-wing influence in cultural institutions.
Why it matters
The dispute highlights ongoing political battles over how U.S. history is presented in national museums.
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