Japanese American museum head laments Trump-led cuts to financing
Ann Burroughs, president and CEO of the Japanese American National Museum (JANM), has expressed sadness about grant cuts by U.S. President Donald Trump's administration, in an interview with Jiji Press.
JANM invites teachers from all over the country to its workshops on the history of the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II.
The Department of Government Efficiency, led by billionaire Elon Musk, has stopped funding for the National Endowment for the Humanities, which financially supports museums and libraries. The move has affected JANM, leading it to suspend the workshop program.
"We were saddened but not surprised," Burroughs said of the move. JANM staff were disappointed because they had to inform teachers who had qualified for the workshop that it might be canceled, she added.
"Federal funding typically accounts for about 10% of our annual operating budget, which is significant," she said. Among other affected JANM projects was the renewal of the air-conditioning facility, which is needed to preserve its collection of over 160,000 items.
The museum was able to procure enough funds for the workshop thanks to donations from individuals nationwide within about a week, Burroughs said. She expressed hopes for support from private organizations, noting that $1.25 million is needed for the air-conditioning facility.
"There is a disturbing effort to suppress the stories of untold histories, diverse voices and the contributions and struggles of communities across America," Burroughs said. "This effort undermines the hard-won protections for historically marginalized communities."
"Museums like JANM create educational opportunities for younger generations to grapple with complexity," she noted. "At JANM, we embrace and honor the complexity of Japanese American history."
Trump's executive order against "anti-American" ideology aims to "replace nonpartisan, research-based and comprehensive history of the U.S. with a grandiose and simplistic narrative that omits the nation's injustices, mistakes and dark chapters," she said.
"There is no way to separate this difficult history, nor the culture and accomplishments of Japanese Americans, from a greater understanding of America's cultural and ethnic diversity," Burroughs stressed.
She added that the museum's board chair, Bill Fujioka, said that the organization will not sacrifice its values out of fear of losing funding.
"We must continue to embody our mission, carry the lessons of history forward and celebrate the nation's rich diverse stories and untold histories," Burroughs stated.
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