President Donald Trump has ordered a review of the Smithsonian's content, ahead of the 250th birthday of America's founding. (Getty)
The report said the White House set a Jan. 13 deadline for the Smithsonian to turn over the requested records, warning that the administration could use the Office of Management and Budget’s apportionment authority to delay or withhold federal funding if the institution fails to comply.
This marks an intensification of a dispute that began earlier this year, when President Donald Trump signed an executive order accusing the Smithsonian of operating "under the influence of a divisive, race-centered ideology" and directing the institution to eliminate exhibits or programs that "degrade shared American values."
The White House letter, according to Bloomberg, accused the Smithsonian of slow-walking previous information requests and providing only cursory details about its programming, particularly with respect to future exhibitions planned between 2026 and 2029.
The administration said it wants detailed schedules and budgets as part of its review.
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The Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. (Kevin Carter/Getty Images)
"American taxpayers should not be funding institutions that undermine our country or promote one-sided, divisive political narratives," Halligan told Fox News Digital at the time. She said exhibits should present history "in a way that is accurate, balanced, and consistent with the values that make the United States of America exceptional."
The Smithsonian said then that it is "committed to continuous and rigorous scholarship" and was reviewing exhibit content to ensure it meets institutional standards.
Bloomberg reported that the latest letter frames the records request as part of the administration’s preparations for the semiquincentennial, which Trump has signaled he wants to use to emphasize patriotism and a unifying national narrative.
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The Smithsonian receives roughly two-thirds of its annual budget from federal appropriations, according to prior reporting by Fox News Digital.
The White House and the Smithsonian did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's requests for comment.
Jasmine Baehr is a Breaking News Writer for Fox News Digital, where she covers politics, the military, faith and culture.
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