When Amy Sherald, one of the United States’ foremost contemporary painters, canceled a major exhibition of her work at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery in July, it sent shockwaves through the art world.

The decision followed a dispute with curators over how to display a painting that reimagined the Statue of Liberty as a Black, trans woman. Sherald cited censorship, which she later claimed in an op-ed had “taken hold” of the federally funded Smithsonian, cautioning that “history shows us” what happens when governments demand loyalty from cultural institutions.

Sherald’s cancelation is just one warning sign of strife at the Smithsonian as the Trump administration takes unprecedented steps to tighten its grip over the eminent museum network. Aiming to eradicate “improper ideology” from its walls, per an executive order in March, the administration has taken aim at displays involving race and gender; called for the National Portrait Gallery’s director to be fired (she subsequently resigned); and launched a review of exhibitions to ensure they follow the president’s directive to “celebrate American exceptionalism,” demanding that the Smithsonian hand over gallery labels, information on future exhibitions and internal communications on artwork selection. The institution has responded by assembling a team to address the administration’s requests.

The American Alliance of Museums (AAM) is among those concerned that the threat of interference stretches far beyond Washington, DC. On August 15, three days after President Donald Trump announced his administration’s review, the group issued a statement warning of growing “threats of censorship against US museums,” describing “increasing external pressures to modify, remove, or limit exhibitions and programs.”

Amy Sherald’s painting of the Statue of Liberty, modeled by a Black trans artist, exhibited here at the Whitney Museum of American Art before it became a flashpoint in the cancelation of her show at the National Portrait Gallery. Tiffany Sage/BFA.com/Shutterstock

Days later, Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to call museums nationwide “the last remaining segment of ‘WOKE,’” adding that — following his systematic targeting of universities — his attorneys would focus on museums next.