The Smithsonian Institution's Board of Regents is shrinking, with two members' terms expiring in March and no replacements announced. A third regent's term expires next week, with three more set to end in the autumn, and there are no concrete plans to fill these vacancies. The delay stems from a requirement for both Congress and the President to approve new members.
President Donald Trump’s return to office has triggered a sweeping overhaul of the American cultural landscape through executive orders and the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Key actions include the dissolution of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) offices at the Smithsonian, the cancellation of thousands of National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) grants, and the removal of high-profile Biden appointees from the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum board. These measures are accompanied by new tariffs and immigration policies that threaten the international art trade and cross-border collaborations.