The Trump administration is threatening to cut off federal agencies' support for the Smithsonian over what it describes as a shift from educational programming to a "radical political agenda." 

In a letter sent on Friday to the Smithsonian Board of Regents, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and Vince Haley, assistant to the president for domestic policy, explain that the institution's mission was to be the "foremost steward of American history and culture," which places upon it the "responsibility to preserve and present the American story faithfully." 

However, Burgum and Haley explain, a White House Domestic Policy Council report documents a pattern of changes of those priorities to one in which an ideological agenda is being pursued. This includes changes to the National Museum of American History (NMAH) and the adoption of a new "Interpretive Plan." 

These changes, as well as public statements by senior leadership, Burgum and Haley wrote, have "reframed" "NMAH away from presenting a coherent and accurate account of the American story" to advancing political agendas around race and identity, gender and sexuality, environmental change, and immigration. 

"Indeed, the White House Domestic Policy Council's report is replete with alarming examples of how this radical ideology is reflected across exhibitions, educational materials and public programming, causing historic subjects and artifacts to be presented as vehicles for this ideology while packaged as educational programming," the letter states. 

"The ultimate effect of this radical ideology is to weaken our shared American identity," Burgum and Haley continue, "erase our heritage and condition the public to accept these attempts to weaponize our national institutions and traditions in support of a radical political agenda." 

The letter points out that the institution receives a $1 billion appropriation from Congress each year, as well as support from executive departments and agencies.

"Those executive departments and agencies cannot in good conscience continue to support the Smithsonian under current leadership by, for example, loaning artifacts for exhibits, enabling procurement processes and making discretionary grants," the letter warns. 

The letter concludes by saying that Burgum and Haley look forward to working with the Smithsonian to restore its objectives in line with its original mission.