WATCH: Smithsonian director admits she sees history as ‘tool’ of ‘social justice’ after explosive hearing

Smithsonian National Museum of American History Director Anthea Hartig stated in a February 2025 presentation that 'history as a practice' is a 'prime tool of social justice,' contrasting with her recent congressional testimony defending the Smithsonian's nonpartisanship. The remarks resurfaced amid hearings on alleged 'woke ideological capture' at the institution. Hartig highlighted the museum's shift toward an 'equity-based, justice forward' approach, including land acknowledgments and images from Black Lives Matter protests.