House Bill on Smithsonian Women's History Museum Fails to Pass

The House of Representatives voted against legislation that would authorize construction of a Smithsonian American Women's History Museum on the National Mall. The bill originally allowed the transfer of federal land for the project and had more than 200 bipartisan co-sponsors.

In March, House Republicans added an amendment that would give the president final authority over the museum's location and prohibit the inclusion of transgender women in exhibits.

At a hearing this week, Representative Bryan Steil of Wisconsin stated that the changes were made with technical assistance from the White House. Democrats noted that the president would have significant control over an institution focused on women's history.

The amended bill received 210 Democratic votes against it and six Republican votes against it. Three of the four Republicans who opposed the bill and had served in 2020 had previously voted against the original version of the legislation.

The Smithsonian American Women's History Museum was first authorized by legislation signed in 2020. A commission formed in 2014 recommended the creation of the museum after reaching consensus across party lines. The Smithsonian receives about 62 percent of its funding from the federal government.

The institution has faced administration requests for content reviews and funding conditions tied to exhibition materials. The museum currently operates with an interim director following the departures of two previous founding directors.