A push by House Republicans to limit recognition to biological women in the planned Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum might derail bipartisan backing for the project. A coalition of Democratic lawmakers is urging House Speaker Mike Johnson not to bring an amended version of H.R. 1329 to the floor.
The original bill, introduced last year, had strong bipartisan support, with 127 Democrats and 103 Republicans cosponsoring it. However, a revised version introduced in March by Republicans on the Committee on House Administration adds language stating only biological women may be featured.
In an April 16 letter signed by 146 Democrats, lawmakers warn the change “grants President Donald Trump authority to unilaterally select the Women’s Museum site, hands control over design and construction to boards stacked with Trump’s political loyalists, and dictates what the museum can and cannot say about women’s history.”
The amendment follows a previous executive order directing officials to remove “improper ideology” from Smithsonian institutions. Lawmakers warn the sudden decision to fundamentally rewrite the bill undermines years of bipartisan work and could cost Democratic support altogether.
