During a recent House oversight hearing, critics accused the Smithsonian National Museum of American History of using training materials that link core values like objectivity to white supremacy. The testimony focused on the "MASS Action" toolkit and its role in institutional training.
The 2020 apology and the persistence of the MASS Action toolkit
The controversy surrounding the Smithsonian National Museum of American History is rooted in a perceived failure to implement past reforms. As the report details,the National Museum of African American History and Culture issued an apology in 2020 after removing a chart that categorized objective thinking as a "white dominant" trait.
Despite that previous institutional apology, the current hearing revealed that the "Museums as Sites for Social Action" (MASS Action) toolkit remains in use. Critics argue that the continued presence of this guide suggests that the Smithsonian's commitment to reform was superficial rather than substantive.
Redefining perfectionism and objectivity in the "Excellence in DEAI Report"
The debate has moved beyond simple training guides into the highest levels of Smithsonian leadership. According to testimony provided during the hearing, a 2022 document titled "Excellence in DEAI Report," co-authored by Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch ,explicitly praises the MASS Action toolkit.
The report suggests that the toolkit is a vital resource for shifting museum professionals away from what it describes as "white-dominant characteristics." These traits include perfectionism, risk aversion, and rational thinking. This framing has drawn sharp criticism from lawmakers who argue that these are universal human values rather than racialized behaviors.
Mike Gonzalez’s charge of "Marxist cultural transformation"
Mike Gonzalez, a senior fellow at the Heritage Foundation, provided some of the most pointed testimony during the "Rewriting American History" hearing. Gonzalez characterized the Smithsonian's use of the MASS Action toolkit as a form of "Marxist cultural transformation" intended to indoctrinate staff.
Gonzalez alleged that the museum leadership has used these materials to move the institution away from its primary mission of historical preservation . He described the ideology found within the toolkit as "revolting," suggesting that the museum is being used as a tool for societal engineering rather than education.
What the Smithsonian leadership has yet to clarify regarding mandatory reading groups
While the hearing highlighted significant tension,several specific operational details remain unverified. It is still unclear how long the mandatory reading groups mentioned by Gonzalez have been active or exactly how many staff members were required to participate in them.
Furthermore, while Representative Brandon Gill directly challenged museum director Anthea Hartig, the full extent of the museum's formal response to these specific allegations of "ideological capture" has not been fully detailed in the public record. It remains to be seen if the Smithsonian will implement new oversight to prevent the recurrence of these controversial training modules.
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