A recent high-profile staffing decision by the Trump administration has stirred conversation across the political and cultural landscape, marking another move in what some have described as a broader reshaping of federal institutions.
In a statement posted on Truth Social, President Donald Trump announced the immediate dismissal of a senior official at a prominent federal cultural institution, citing ideological concerns. The post did not mince words: “Upon the request and recommendation of many people, I am hereby terminating the employment of [name withheld] as Director. She is a highly partisan person, and a strong supporter of DEI, which is totally inappropriate for her position. Her replacement will be named shortly. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
The move follows a wave of similar decisions aimed at redirecting the tone and direction of federally backed cultural and intellectual bodies. According to a White House official, the decision was not made in isolation but comes amid broader frustrations with how certain figures have managed their roles, especially when it comes to what the administration views as overt political messaging under the guise of neutrality.
One flashpoint, according to the White House, involved a caption from a museum photo display of President Trump. The caption included references to his two impeachments and the events of January 6, 2021, noting that Trump was acquitted both times and made a “historic comeback” in the 2024 election. The White House questioned whether such framing aligned with the director’s stated mission to remain non-editorial.
The person dismissed had previously said during an interview: “We try very much not to editorialize. I don’t want by reading the label to get a sense of what the curator’s opinion is about that person. I want someone reading the label to understand that it’s based on historical fact.” Critics say that statement conflicts with how information has been presented under her leadership.
The dismissed official had also taken strong public positions on a number of politically charged topics. In a keynote address last year at a major symposium on American art and culture, she repeatedly emphasized her focus on identity politics and the social context of art. “America has never been able to separate a person’s appearance from their potential,” she said. “Our history is filled, and continues to be, with examples of hatred, discrimination, fear, and alienation.”
During the same address, she reflected on the Apollo 17 mission in 1972 and the iconic “Blue Marble” image of Earth. “That utopian vision feels very, very far away today,” she lamented, “in the terrifying wake of the most uncivil, mistrustful, racially insensitive, sexually exploitative, factually untruthful, digitally manipulated, secretive, and inflammatory election of the modern era.”
She later framed the institution she led as one rooted in “identity politics,” citing examples like defending controversial labeling of historical figures and showcasing transgender activists. “The National Portrait Gallery, as I’ve mentioned, is all about identity politics,” she said, underscoring her approach to curatorial decisions.
This latest removal comes on the heels of several others. Last month, the Trump administration fired Shira Perlmutter, head of the U.S. Copyright Office, as well as Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden. Both were seen as roadblocks to the administration’s vision for depoliticizing federal institutions.
On the same day as his inauguration in January, Trump signed an executive order eliminating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs across the federal government. According to a senior White House official, “This administration is focused on merit, historical accuracy, and eliminating politicization from our cultural institutions.”
Only at the very end of the announcement did the name become public: Kim Sajet, former Director of the National Portrait Gallery, was the official removed.
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