$1.24 billion was the record annual federal funding request the Smithsonian Institution filed for fiscal year 2024, up $130 million from the $1.11 billion it submitted in fiscal year 2021. The Trump administration's proposed budgets for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 would push that figure below $1 billion, a threshold the institution has cleared every year since fiscal year 2020, according to a Fox News Digital analysis. A 162-page White House reform report and executive actions accompany the proposed cuts.
Budget trajectory, FY2021 to FY2027
Smithsonian annual federal funding requests rose steadily through the Biden administration, from $1.11 billion in fiscal year 2021 to the $1.24 billion record in fiscal year 2024. The fiscal year 2025 request also cleared $1 billion. The Trump administration's proposed figures for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 fall below that mark, the first time the annual request has dropped below $1 billion since fiscal year 2020.
| Fiscal Year | Annual Request | Status |
|---|---|---|
| FY2021 | $1.11 billion | Reported |
| FY2024 | $1.24 billion | Reported (record) |
| FY2025 | Above $1 billion | Reported |
| FY2026 | Below $1 billion | Proposed |
| FY2027 | Below $1 billion | Proposed |
The 16-month review
The funding reduction follows what Fox News Digital's analysis describes as one of the most extensive reviews of the Smithsonian in decades. Over 16 months, the White House examined museum exhibits, educational programming, internal records, and leadership statements, issued multiple document requests, interviewed curators, and conducted on-site walkthroughs. The review produced a 162-page report recommending sweeping reforms and a new round of executive actions.
The Smithsonian runs 21 museums and the National Zoo and maintains nearly 157 million objects and specimens. Federal funding above $1 billion per year supports those operations alongside private donations and trust revenue. The administration has directed the institution to change its exhibits, programming, leadership, and spending priorities, arguing it has promoted ideological narratives inconsistent with its mission. The White House has ordered the Smithsonian to promote what it calls a more accurate portrayal of American history.
Congressional action
Whether Congress adopts the proposed funding levels is unresolved. Executive orders, museum reviews, and the 162-page report together indicate the administration is pressing both regulatory and budget tools at once. The Smithsonian did not respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.