Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Top Stories

Future of the National Museum of the American Latino is Uncertain

News

Future of the National Museum of the American Latino is Uncertain

PRESENTE! A Latino History of the United States

Credit: National Museum of the American Latino

The American Museum of the Latino faces more hurdles after over two decades of advocacy.

Congress passed legislation to allow for the creation of the Museum, along with the American Women’s History Museum, as part of the Smithsonian Institution in an online format. Five years later, new legislation introduced by Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.) wants to build a physical museum for both the Latino and women’s museums but might face pushback due to a new executive order signed by President Donald Trump.


Advocacy for the National Museum of the American Latino began in 2003, with former Reps. Xavier Becerra (D-Calif.) and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.) introduced a bipartisan bill to create the museum. A report titled “To Illuminate the American Story for All” authored by a presidential commission created by former President George W. Bush’s administration in 2011 stated the creation of the museum is necessary.

“The Smithsonian American Latino Museum not only as a monument for Latinos, but as a 21st Century learning laboratory rooted in the mission that every American should have access to the stories of all Americans,” the report stated.

But legislation to officially create the museum did not pass until 2020. The National Museum of the American Latino Act of 2020 was passed in Congress and signed by President Donald Trump. The legislation was included under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, which includes a subsection authorizing the museum's creation.

However, the National Museum of the American Latino is only online but has occasional in-person exhibits at its Molina Family Latino Gallery at the National Museum of American History. In February 2025, Malliotakis introduced the Smithsonian History of American Women and Latino (SHAWL) Act to build both Latino and women’s Smithsonian museums.

Malliotakis originally introduced the same legislation in August 2024 during the 117th Congress but reintroduced it for the 118th.

“The introduction of this critical bill brings us one step closer to fulfilling the dream of having both museums right where they belong — on the National Mall,” Rep. Tony Cárdenas, who joined Malliotakis in introducing the bill, stated in a press release.

According to documents from the National Museum of the American Latino, a physical museum would either be built on undeveloped land across from the National Museum of African American History and Culture or right northeast of the tidal basin.

The National Museum of the American Latino also stated that they do not comment on pending legislation.

Over at the White House on March 27, President Donald Trump recently endorsed the physical creation of the American Women’s History Museum. Still, he did not show support for the National Museum of the American Latino.

Trump endorsed building the women’s museum at an event associated with the Republican Women’s Caucus. He stated he would back Malliotakis’ legislation “100 percent.”

"The Republican Party today is the party of opportunity, security, and freedom,” Malliotakis stated in a press release.

But recently, the status of the American Museum of the Latino is uncertain as President Donald Trump signed a new executive order titled “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History.”

The executive order stated that the Smithsonian Institution is “under the influence of a divisive, race-centered ideology.

“Over the past decade, Americans have witnessed a concerted and widespread effort to rewrite our Nation’s history, replacing objective facts with a distorted narrative driven by ideology rather than truth,” the executive order states.

President and General Counsel of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) Thomas A. Saenz called the executive order “troubling” as in the past museums have been kept out of political debate.

“It seeks to introduce current political disputes into policy surrounding long-term preservation of history through museums and similar institutions,” Saenz said in reference to the executive order.

During his second administration, Trump has signed other executive orders seeking to eliminate “woke” initiatives related to diversity, equity, and inclusion within government agencies.

Saenz said MALDEF, which supports the civil rights of all Latinos, wants the museum to have a permanent location on the National Mall. He also added that Latino advocacy organizations and historians should decide what exhibits go in the museum. Saenz said he hopes the museum’s exhibits show the full history and story of the community rather than playing along with stereotypes, like only showing American Latinos as immigrants.

“I hope that there will be consultation with such groups, which often have an understanding of the contemporary repercussions of exclusion patterns in our history and the way that history is taught and passed on in our country,” Saenz said.

Maggie Rhoads is a student journalist attending George Washington University School of Media and Public Affairs. At The Fulcrum, she covers how legislation and policy are impacting communities.

Read More

The cast of "English," showcasing at TheaterWorks Hartford.

TheaterWorks Hartford marks its 40th season with English, Sanaz Toossi’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play about language, identity, and belonging.

Photo by Julian Barlow

TheaterWorks Hartford Presents “English”: A Deep Dive Into Language, Culture, and Identity

This autumn, class is in session. TheaterWorks Hartford celebrates its 40th season with the Pulitzer Prize-winning play, “English” by Sanaz Toossi.

This heartfelt, timely piece is a co-production between TWH and Long Wharf Theater. “English” premieres in Hartford on Oct. 2 and runs through Nov. 2, 2025—before showcasing on Southern Connecticut State University’s campus in January 2026.

Keep ReadingShow less
Understanding Minority Rights and Inclusion in Democracies: U.S. and Abroad
text
Photo by Amy Elting on Unsplash

Understanding Minority Rights and Inclusion in Democracies: U.S. and Abroad

From the civil rights marches in the U.S. to Indigenous representation in Bolivia, minority groups have been a catalyst for democratic revolution and a reminder of representation’s value to society. Their struggles and contributions have not only tested the boundaries of democratic ideals but also redefined them. Minority inclusion erodes the constraints placed on democratic systems and expands their legitimacy, resilience, and meaning, though not without controversy and resistance.

What Does “Minority” Mean?

Keep ReadingShow less
College students sitting in a classroom, facing a professor.

The Trump administration announced a $500M one-time boost to HBCUs and tribal colleges while cutting $350M from Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs).

Getty Images, Maskot

Just the Facts: Trump’s $500M Boost to HBCUs Sparks Backlash Over Cuts to Hispanic Colleges

The Fulcrum strives to approach news stories with an open mind and skepticism, striving to present our readers with a broad spectrum of viewpoints through diligent research and critical thinking. As best we can, we remove personal bias from our reporting and seek a variety of perspectives in both our news gathering and selection of opinion pieces. However, before our readers can analyze varying viewpoints, they must have the facts.

On Sept. 15, President Trump’s administration announced a major shift in federal education funding by redirecting nearly $500 million toward Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and tribal colleges. However, this move came alongside deep cuts to other minority-serving institutions, especially those serving large Hispanic student populations.

Keep ReadingShow less
Meacham: Political Violence in America Linked to Deep Questions of Identity and Inclusion

"Who is an American? Who deserves to be included in ‘We the people" - Jon Meacham

AI generated illustration

Meacham: Political Violence in America Linked to Deep Questions of Identity and Inclusion

In a sobering segment aired on CBS Sunday Morning, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Jon Meacham addressed the escalating wave of political violence in the United States and its implications for the future of American democracy. Speaking with journalist Robert Costa, Meacham reflected on the recent assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk and a string of violent incidents targeting political figures and institutions.

"We do not want to be in a place where, because you disagree with someone, you pick up a gun. That is not what the country can be. And if it is, then it's something different. It's not the America we want," he said.

Keep ReadingShow less