Defying Trump's Firing, Smithsonian Says It Controls Personnel Decisions
'All personnel decisions are made by and subject to the direction of the secretary, with oversight by the board,' said a statement from the Smithsonian, which oversees that museum and 20 others, as well as libraries, research centers and the National Zoo. 'Lonnie G. Bunch, the secretary, has the support of the Board of Regents in his authority and management of the Smithsonian.'
The statement came hours after the Board of Regents, including Vice President JD Vance, discussed the president's announcement at a quarterly meeting. When Mr. Trump said 10 days ago that he had fired Ms. Sajet, he called her 'a highly partisan person, and a strong supporter of DEI, which is totally inappropriate for her position.'
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Ms. Sajet was not mentioned in the Smithsonian's statement. But the board said it was asking Mr. Bunch to take steps to ensure the institution's nonpartisan nature.
'The Smithsonian must be a welcoming place of knowledge and discovery for all Americans,' the statement said. 'The Board of Regents is committed to ensuring that the Smithsonian is a beacon of scholarship free from political or partisan influence, and we recognize that our institution can and must do more to further these foundational values.'
The statement said the board had directed Mr. Bunch to articulate expectations to museum directors about what is displayed in their institutions and to give them time to make any changes needed 'to ensure unbiased content.'
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