Observed on February 22, George Washington's birthday, Presidents' Day became a holiday in 1885. In 1971, the day evolved to recognize all presidents, namely Abraham Lincoln, who was born on February 12. Still a federal holiday 140 years later, Presidents' Day is a time to reflect on the nation's leaders, who have shaped life for its citizens and affected the world in immeasurable ways-for better or worse.
In an open letter posted online, the White House says Tuesday is the deadline for eight Smithsonian Institution museums to submit documentation about current and upcoming exhibitions and programs. The letter says that federal funds for the Smithsonian's $1 billion budget depends on the institution fulfilling the terms of an executive order issued by President Trump last March, in which he stipulated the removal of "improper ideology" in the museums' offerings. The stakes for this deadline are potentially enormous.
I didn't listen to my family as a child when they told me to avoid becoming the bearer of bad news. As part of Hyperallergic's News Team, I've spent much of the last year writing about the impact of President Trump's policies on the most cherished arts and cultural organizations in the United States, including the Smithsonian Institution, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), and the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS).
