The National Gallery of Art (NGA) in Washington, DC, is ending its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs due to a executive order (EO), issued by President Donald Trump on Monday, January 20. The executive order ends such initiatives at all federal agencies and entities, calling them “illegal and immoral discrimination programs.”
This is what an NGA spokesperson said Hyperallergic that the museum closed its Office of Belonging and Inclusion in response to Trump’s mandate.
“The employees of that office have been transferred to already vacant positions elsewhere in the museum,” the spokesperson said.
Additionally, the museum has removed any language referencing DEI from its website. On one page outlining the institution’s mission and valuesthe words ‘diversity, equality, access and inclusivity’ have been replaced by ‘welcoming and accessible’.
Signed into law on Trump’s first day as president, along with a slew of controversial mandates that range from pushing to redefine birthright citizenship Unpleasant withdraw from the Paris Agreementthe United Nations climate change body, the EO requires all federal agencies and departments to end their DEI programs, plans and initiatives within 60 days.
The order also applies to all accessibility-related plans, equity-related grants, and “environmental justice” positions and offices, invoking a commitment to “spend precious taxpayer dollars solely on making America great.”
The NGA’s announcement comes three months after Ford Foundation leader Darren Walker was named president of the museum. Hyperallergic has contacted Walker for comment through the Ford Foundation.
Established by Congress in 1937, the NGA receives most of its funding from the federal government and is home to a collection of more than 150,000 paintings, sculpture, decorative arts, photographs, prints and drawings. Four years ago, the museum launched at a cost of $820,000 rebrand The focus was on DEI, including a new logo and signage, and a commitment to addressing the lack of diverse leadership and workforce.
Last weekend, the institution hosted a fundraising dinner for the Trump Vance Inauguration Committee. (An NGA representative said this Hyperallergic that while it “generally does not allow private events, exceptions have been made for official requests from previous administrations,” such as an event held for President Bill Clinton in 1993.)
It is currently unclear how other museums will respond to the EO. Hyperallergic has contacted the Smithsonian Institution for comment.
