The Smithsonian Institution announced the closure of its diversity office, a hiring freeze for federal positions, and demands for staff to return to in-person work. This decision impacts 21 museums, 14 research centers, and approximately 6,500 workers, responding to executive orders from President Trump that deem diversity initiatives illegal. Shortly after, the National Gallery of Art also discontinued its diversity program. Despite these changes, Smithsonian representatives assert their commitment to workforce excellence and accessibility, highlighting the institution's reliance on federal funding.
Our institution is fully committed to excellence in our workforce, free from discrimination and harassment, said a Smithsonian spokesperson in a statement.
The closure of the DEI office came just days after the federally funded National Gallery of Art, which had just completed a rebrand centered around inclusion, announced that it was shutting down its own diversity program.
#smithsonian-institution #diversity-and-inclusion #federal-employment #executive-orders #cultural-institutions
Collection
[
|
...
]