The Smithsonian Institution issued its first statement Monday night since President Donald Trump said he fired Kim Sajet, director of the National Portrait Gallery.
The agency confirmed in its statement that it is a “independent entity.” While the statement did not name Sajit and did not call Trump directly, it said: “All personnel decisions were made by the Secretary’s instructions and were supervised by the board.
this New York Times The report said the statement was released hours after the quarterly meeting of the agency’s board of directors, with Vice President JD Vance being a member.
The statement, posted on Smithsonian’s website, seems to confirm what is happening in practice. Last week, Washington Post Sajit reportedly continued to work at the National Portrait Gallery despite Trump being considered a shooting. this postal It was also reported that the Trump administration provided a 17-point list as a reason for dismissal, which illustrates what the administration calls the Times of the Cialis talk or acts in a way that criticizes Trump.
The Smithsonian statement seemed to suggest a government complaint, writing: “To strengthen our nonpartisan figure, the board has directed the secretary to articulate specific expectations changes to museum directors and staff regarding Smithsonian content.”
The National Portrait Gallery is one of many museums managed by the Smithsonian, whose network also includes the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, and the National Museum of African American History and Culture, all in Washington, DC The Smithsonian also manages a few museums outside DC, including the National Museum of the American Indian, which operates a New York branch in addition a DC one.
The statement comes days after the White House released its 2026 budget, which calls for a 12% reduction in Smithsonian funding. The cuts will eliminate separate funding to the long-standing National Museum of Latinoes in the United States, forcing the museum to reduce its staff from 35 to just six. Meanwhile, the Anacostia Community Museum will be folded into the NMAAHC.
Sajet said on a video call with the National Portrait Gallery Commission last week that budget cuts will fall disproportionately on museum facilities and infrastructure, i.e. New York Times Reported on Monday. “That’s what maintains our museum, storage, upgrades and all the concerns in it,” she said.
Trump has previously targeted the Smithsonians in the form of an executive order, accusing his museum of proposing “irrational ideology” through “an exhibition or program that lowers the shared American values.” The executive order picks out shows at the Smithsonian Museum of American Art and the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
