Tag: Smithsonian

The entry to the Smithsonian Institution’s Smithsonian Castle in Washington, D.C.

Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP

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Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP

The Smithsonian Institution is closing its diversity office and freezing all federal hiring. The decision will affect dozens of American museums, research centers and libraries, as well as the National Zoo.

“Our Institution is fully committed to excellence in our workforce, free from discrimination and harassment,” wrote a Smithsonian Institution spokesperson in an email to NPR. “We are closing our Office of Diversity but retaining our efforts at visitor accessibility as it serves a critical function.”

The move to eliminate the Office of Diversity comes in the wake of an executive order from President Trump that describes diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, or DEI, as “illegal and immoral.” The Smithsonian is not a federal agency. But much of its billion dollar budget comes from federal appropriations. Two-thirds of its nearly 6,500 employees are federal workers. They will be expected to return to the office in April, according to the Smithsonian spokesperson.

Nearly 17 million people visited Smithsonian museums in Washington D.C., Virginia and New York last year. The most popular include the National Museum of Natural History and National Air and Space Museum on the National Mall in Washington.

Entrance to the museums has been entirely free since the Institution’s founding in 1846, with the exception of the Cooper Hewitt, the Smithsonian’s design museum in New York. The question of charging for admission has come up repeatedly under various administrations, but rejected, in part, because of concerns about political backlash.

Numerous corporations have eliminated DEI initiatives since the executive order was released. Last week, the National Gallery of Art – which, like the Smithsonian, also receives funding from the federal government – also eliminated its office of belonging and inclusion, as well as mentions of DEI from its website.

In a surprising turn of events, the Smithsonian Institution announced today that it will be closing its diversity office following President Trump’s recent executive order. The executive order, which aims to eliminate all diversity and inclusion training in federal agencies, has sparked controversy and backlash across the country.

The Smithsonian’s diversity office was responsible for promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within the institution and ensuring that all employees and visitors felt welcome and valued. The closure of the office has raised concerns about the future of diversity initiatives within the Smithsonian and the impact it will have on the institution’s employees and visitors.

Critics of the executive order argue that it is a step backwards in the fight for equality and inclusion, and that it will only serve to further divide and marginalize marginalized communities. They believe that diversity and inclusion are essential components of a healthy and thriving society, and that efforts to dismantle these initiatives will only lead to more discrimination and inequality.

As the Smithsonian prepares to close its diversity office, many are left wondering what the future holds for diversity and inclusion within the institution. Will other organizations follow suit and abandon their diversity initiatives, or will they stand up and fight for equality and justice for all? Only time will tell.

Tags:

• Trump executive order
• Smithsonian diversity office
• NPR news
• Diversity initiatives
• Cultural institutions
• Government policies
• Workplace diversity
• Equality and inclusion
• Executive orders impact
• Social justice movements

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