Decision and rationale
The Smithsonian Institution's Board of Regents has voted to establish the National Museum of the American Latino in the Smithsonian-owned Arts and Industries Building, formally designating that structure as the museum's permanent home. By selecting an existing Smithsonian property, the institution will not need to obtain congressional authorization to place the museum on a site owned by the National Park Service - a process that would require approval from Congress where President Donald Trump’s Republican Party holds a majority.
Background on authorization and temporary presence
Congress formally authorized the creation of the museum in December 2020. In the interim, the museum opened a temporary exhibition space at the National Museum of American History in 2022 while plans for a permanent location were prepared.
Funding and retrofit challenges
The decision to use the Arts and Industries Building does not eliminate financial and logistical hurdles. Reports indicate that securing the funds necessary to retrofit and prepare the building for the National Museum of the American Latino remains a significant challenge. Estimates for converting and upgrading the facility have been put at about $1 billion, and raising that capital is cited as a remaining obstacle to completing the project.
Federal budget actions and institutional concerns
Recent federal budget proposals from the Trump administration have altered the funding landscape for the project. An executive budget this year removed dedicated funding for a standalone Latino museum and instead proposed creating a decentralized Smithsonian Latino Center that would present exhibitions across multiple museums. Separately, the administration has repeatedly criticized the Smithsonian, a stance that historians and civil rights advocates say risks undermining the institution's role in acknowledging key periods of U.S. history.
Scope of the Smithsonian
The Smithsonian is a large museum and research complex and serves as a major exhibition space for American history and culture. The Board of Regents' designation of the Arts and Industries Building as the permanent site establishes a clear institutional pathway to house the National Museum of the American Latino within the Smithsonian's existing footprint, while leaving funding and retrofit work as unresolved practical matters.
Note: This report presents the decisions and reported challenges described by the Smithsonian and referenced reporting on funding and budget proposals. It does not add facts beyond those described in those statements and reports.