House Democrats joined six Republicans on Thursday to derail legislation advancing the long-delayed Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum after Republicans added language clarifying that the museum would focus on biological women.
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The bill failed in a 216—204 vote, despite years of bipartisan support for the project. The legislation had been spearheaded by Rep. Nicole Malliotakis.
The collapse came after Republicans amended the proposal to specify that the museum would be dedicated to “preserving, researching, and presenting the history, achievements, and lived experiences of biological women in the United States.” The revised legislation also prohibited the museum from portraying “any biological male as a female.”
Democrats immediately abandoned the bill after the language was added, arguing it excluded transgender-identifying individuals.
House Speaker Mike Johnson blasted Democrats for opposing the measure over the addition of the word “biological.”
“The addition of the word biological made them all run for the hills,” Johnson said. “If that’s controversial in the Democratic Party, we’re in serious trouble.”
Malliotakis similarly criticized Democrats for walking away from legislation many had previously co-sponsored.
“A women’s history museum is supposed to be dedicated to women, period,” Malliotakis told Fox News. “And the fact that they’re going to pull their support after overwhelmingly co-sponsoring this bill because the word biological was inserted, to me, is ludicrous.”
Democrats claimed the dispute extended beyond transgender issues. The revised bill also granted President Donald Trump authority to select an alternative National Mall site for the museum and included language calling for “equal representation of the diversity of the political viewpoints and authentic experiences held by women in the United States.”
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Leaders of the Democratic Women’s Caucus accused Republicans of politicizing the museum effort.
“A museum about women, fought for and supported by women, should not be controlled by one man,” caucus leaders said in a statement.
Republicans responded that the legislation simply sought to ensure a women’s museum remained focused on women rather than progressive gender ideology.
The Smithsonian women’s museum was originally authorized by Congress in 2020 alongside the planned National Museum of the American Latino, but construction has remained stalled pending final congressional approval for a permanent location.
Several GOP lawmakers reportedly opposed the museum entirely, arguing existing Smithsonian institutions already honor women’s contributions and expressing concern the new museum could become a platform for progressive activism.
According to a source familiar with Republican concerns, some lawmakers feared the museum could evolve into “a shrine to abortion activists like Margaret Sanger or the latest progressive cause” without stricter protections in the legislation.
In the end, unanimous Democratic opposition combined with six Republican defections was enough to sink the measure, leaving the future of the women’s history museum uncertain.
