The art-focused digital platform ARTnews reports that the National Gallery of Art, a government institution, has completely eliminated its inclusion department. This decision comes as part of an executive order from former U.S. President Donald Trump, which aimed to end Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs in the U.S. government.
Previously, the institution promoted 'diversity, equity, access, and inclusion,' but it has now chosen to adopt a simpler approach of being 'welcoming and accessible.' As a result of this measure, employees who were part of the DEI programs have been reassigned to other vacant positions within the museum.
Trump's executive order required government agencies to provide the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) with a detailed list of positions, committees, and budgets related to DEI, assessing whether these aspects were misleadingly maintained. In line with this measure, the current president has mandated that all employees hired under these programs be placed on administrative leave with a view to future termination, as well as ordering the removal of DEI-related content from the institution's official web platforms.
The National Gallery of Art receives nearly 80% of its operating budget from the federal executive. The change in its internal policy highlights the influence of political decisions on the management of large cultural institutions.
