House Democrats and six Republican lawmakers on Thursday worked together to kill a bill that would have advanced the long-stalled Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum after Republicans inserted language specifying the museum should focus exclusively on biological women.
The legislation, which had been spearheaded by Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), failed in a 216-204 vote despite years of bipartisan support for the project.
The collapse followed amendments added by Republicans that defined the museum as dedicated to “preserving, researching, and presenting the history, achievements, and lived experiences of biological women in the United States.” The revised bill also prohibited the museum from portraying “any biological male as a female.”
Democrats immediately withdrew their support after the amendment was included, arguing it excluded transgender-identifying individuals.
House Speaker Mike Johnson condemned Democrats for opposing the measure over the addition of the word “biological,” stating: “The addition of the word biological made them all run for the hills. If that’s controversial in the Democratic Party, we’re in serious trouble.”
Malliotakis criticized Democrats for abandoning legislation they had previously co-sponsored, telling Fox News: “A women’s history museum is supposed to be dedicated to women, period. 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 asserted the dispute extended beyond transgender issues, noting the revised bill also granted President Donald Trump authority to select an alternative National Mall site for the museum and included language demanding “equal representation of the diversity of political viewpoints and authentic experiences held by women in the United States.”
Democratic Women’s Caucus leaders accused Republicans of politicizing the museum effort, stating: “A museum about women, fought for and supported by women, should not be controlled by one man.”
Republicans countered that the legislation simply aimed 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 National Museum of the American Latino but has faced delays 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 concerns it could become a platform for progressive activism. A source familiar with Republican concerns noted some lawmakers feared the museum might evolve into “a shrine to abortion activists like Margaret Sanger or the latest progressive cause” without stricter protections in the legislation.
In the end, the bill was defeated by unanimous Democratic opposition combined with six Republican defections, leaving the future of the women’s history museum uncertain.
