Smithsonian Contemplates Response to President Trump's Dismissal of National Portrait Gallery Director
The Smithsonian is considering its response to President Donald Trump's decision to dismiss the director of the National Portrait Gallery, Kim Sajet. The institution is deliberating on whether to challenge the president's authority to fire a museum director employed by the Smithsonian. The board and Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III discussed the situation at an emergency meeting on Monday.
President Trump announced Sajet's firing on social media, citing her partisanship and support for diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts as reasons for her dismissal. The White House compiled a list of grievances against Sajet, including her involvement in a book about the Obama portraits and her social media posts with prominent Democrats. The Smithsonian has not commented on the matter.
The Smithsonian's leadership is reviewing the president's authority to make high-level personnel changes within the institution. Two House Democrats have disputed Trump's power to fire Smithsonian employees, calling any such effort "illegal." The White House has not responded to inquiries about the president's authority in this regard.
The Smithsonian is governed by a 17-member Board of Regents and is overseen by Congress. While the institution receives two-thirds of its funds from the federal government, it is not considered an agency of the government. Trump's move to remove Sajet reflects his desire to exert more influence over cultural matters in Washington.
Sajet's interest in reimagining aspects of the National Portrait Gallery has drawn attention from the White House. The caption on a photograph of Trump at the gallery was cited as evidence of partisanship. Sajet has not commented on her dismissal, and the museum's board of commissioners has refrained from speaking to the media as they await guidance from Smithsonian officials.
The situation remains unresolved as the Smithsonian contemplates its next steps in response to Trump's decision. The institution's independence in hiring and firing museum directors is being scrutinized, and the president's authority in this matter is being questioned. The outcome of this dispute will have implications for the Smithsonian's governance and autonomy.