Marilyn Jackson, president and CEO of the American Alliance of Museums, argues that Americans overwhelmingly trust and support museums, with 96% wanting federal funding maintained or increased. She criticizes the Trump administration's first 100 days for gutting staff and grants at the Institute of Museum and Library Services and other agencies, and for issuing an executive order called 'Restoring Truth' that restricts how museums can portray history, creating fear of retribution for factual research.
This matters because museums are among the most trusted institutions in the U.S., serving as economic engines and community hubs for learning, connection, and cultural preservation. The administration's actions threaten their survival, forcing cuts to programs for rural children, isolated elders, and veterans, and potentially compelling museums to abandon their core mission of capturing history accurately. Jackson emphasizes that support for museums transcends partisan lines, making these cuts a threat to democratic access to cultural heritage.