Smithsonian's $1 billion federal budget faces cuts amid DEI controversy

The Smithsonian Institution, overseeing 21 museums, the National Zoo and nearly 157 million objects, has depended on more than $1 billion in yearly taxpayer support. After a White House report in July 2026 accused the museum complex of pushing DEI and left-wing narratives, the Trump administration proposed cutting its federal allocation to below $1 billion for FY 2026 and FY 2027, marking the first such reduction since FY 2020.

Budget requests had climbed from $960 million in FY 2019 to a peak of $1.24 billion in FY 2024 under the Biden administration. Most of the funding—about $524 million—covers day-to-day operations, with another $310 million earmarked for museum activities and research. The National Museum of Natural History, the National Museum of the American Indian and the National Zoo are among the top recipients.

Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch III, who has drawn over $4.4 million in compensation between 2020 and 2024, has emphasized that DEI must be central to museum work, sparking further debate. While the institution also receives private gifts and grants, the contested federal budget remains a focal point in the broader political fight over how American history is presented.