‘Deep, fundamental rot:’ Key lawmaker accuses Smithsonian of promoting Marxist ideology

Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Texas, told the Just the News, No Noise television show Thursday that Congress is considering legislative action targeting the Smithsonian after accusing the museum of promoting DEI-type exhibits rather than presenting objective history.

The interview comes after a House subcommittee hearing on Tuesday where Republicans pressed the director of the National Museum of American History, Anthea Hartig.

Gill, the chairman of the House Oversight Committee's Task Force on Defending Constitutional Rights and Exposing Institutional Abuse, said the Smithsonian has embraced what he described as "Marxist ideology" over the past several years and argued the institution has drifted away from what it is supposed to be.

"It's very clear that this is an institution that has been promoting Marxist ideology for quite some time," Gill said.

He cited several exhibits that he said characterize Mickey Mouse as racist, display bondage gear promoting sexual fetishes, encourage illegal immigrants to vote in U.S. elections and minimize the role of the nation's Founding Fathers.

"I think there's some deep fundamental rot," Gill said. "Most people want to go to the Smithsonian Institution and see objective history. They want to see an institution that is fundamentally patriotic and does revere American history and depict it accurately and not through the lens of cultural Marxism."

Gill added the Smithsonian is governed by a bipartisan board overseen by Congress and that lawmakers are examining legislative options to address what he views as ideological bias within the institution.