Margaret Carrigan & Brian Boucher, White House Orders Sweeping Review of Smithsonian Museums, Art Net, 12 August 2025
Here’s how the Trump administration is drastically reshaping the arts landscape.
Since returning to the White House on January 20, President Donald Trump has signed more than 140 executive orders—26 on day one alone—many of which have sent shockwaves through the art world. From sweeping restrictions on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives to deep cuts at key federal agencies, the effects are already reshaping how cultural institutions and artists operate. At the center of this upheaval is the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, which has gutted agencies like the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and imposed aggressive oversight on institutions such as the Smithsonian.
Read more: White House launches review of Smithsonian museums and exhibitions
