The Smithsonian board will vote next Monday on housing the National Museum of the American Latino (NMAL) in the Arts & Industries Building, bypassing Congressional approval. The move comes amid threats from the Trump administration to defund the project entirely.
Founded in 2020 and operating out of a dedicated gallery within the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History since 2022, the NMAL aims to honor Latino stories and contributions in the US. However, it has faced political headwinds under the Trump administration, which has targeted similar “woke” programming.
“Considering how things are going,” an unnamed source told The New York Times, suggesting that gambling on congressional approval wasn’t worth the risk. The Smithsonian’s decision to move forward with a potential home in the Arts & Industries Building could signal a strategic retreat from direct confrontation with political opposition.
The Arts & Industries Building, once again open after renovations, offers a historic venue for the museum to thrive, potentially shielding it from further legislative setbacks. However, this move also raises questions about the future of such institutions within a politically charged environment.
