Anthea Hartig faces House Republicans over "woke" ideology and political activism at the National Museum of American History.
Anthea Hartig, director of the National Museum of American History, appeared before a House subcommittee to address criticisms regarding the museum's "woke" and "activist" approach to history. House Republicans questioned Hartig on whether the institution has been captured by a radical ideology that prioritizes a power struggle between oppressors and the oppressed over a unified national narrative. During the hearing, Rep. Nancy Mace pressed Hartig on specific displays regarding gender identity, asking her to define "what is a woman" and when her own gender was revealed. Hartig maintained that the museum strives to represent all Americans and document evidence of American life without taking sides. The questioning followed a July 4 report from the White House Domestic Policy Council, which accused the museum of underemphasizing the Founding Fathers and engaging in "anti-white" and transgender activism. While Democrats argued the report was an attempt by the administration to contort the historical record, Hartig defended the museum as a nonpartisan institution dedicated to telling the truth about the country's past.