Smithsonian board to vote on new home for Latino Museum

The Smithsonian Institution board is scheduled to vote on August 31 regarding a proposal to house the National Museum of the American Latino (NMAL) within the institution’s Arts & Industries Building.

This move would allow the museum to establish a permanent location without seeking congressional approval. Under previous plans, the museum was intended to be constructed on or near the National Mall on land managed by the National Park Service, a process requiring legislative authorization.

Decision-makers reportedly opted for an existing building to secure a location and begin fundraising, rather than risking the uncertainty of the legislative process. The museum has faced political scrutiny, including criticisms from the Trump administration regarding its programming and ideologies.