Four Democratic senators urge Smithsonian to resist White House attempts to 'bully the institution'

Members of the U.S. Park Police guard an entrance to the 9th Street tunnel in front of the Smithsonian Castle on Aug. 13, 2025, in Washington, D.C., after the Trump administration initiated a federal takeover of D.C. police and deployed the National Guard in the city.

Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and three other Democrats are reminding the Smithsonian's secretary that the institution "is the responsibility of Congress."

(Image credit: Alex Wong)