Japanese American National Museum Advocates for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives
Title: Japanese American National Museum Faces Federal Cuts but Stands Firm on DEI Commitments
Amid sweeping federal funding reductions to cultural institutions, the Japanese American National Museum (JANM) in Los Angeles is emerging as a symbol of resilience and principled leadership. With the Trump administration dismantling key sources of federal support — including the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) — many museums are scaling back diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. In contrast, JANM is standing its ground.
A Legacy Rooted in Equity
Founded in 1992 by Japanese American World War II veterans and community leaders, JANM is dedicated to preserving the history and culture of Japanese Americans, from early immigration to the injustices of wartime incarceration and contemporary contributions. The museum is located in the heart of Los Angeles’s Little Tokyo and is an official affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution.
Board Chairman Bill Fujioka recently affirmed JANM’s commitment to equitable education and historical truth in an interview with the Los Angeles Times. “Our community is based on diversity, equity is guaranteed to us in the Constitution, and inclusion is what we believe in,” said Fujioka. His remarks come at a time when federal authorities are pressuring museums to revise programming and language that highlight systemic inequality and America’s multicultural heritage.
Funding Cuts and Administrative Pressure
The JANM’s challenges escalated in early April when the NEH terminated a $190,000 grant earmarked for a workshop project teaching the history of Little Tokyo and WWII internment camps. According to Ann Burroughs, JANM’s Chief Executive Officer and President, the program had trained over 100 teachers from 31 states in just two years, impacting approximately 21,000 students. The upcoming iteration was set to host 76 educators, who would visit the Manzanar Historic Site — one of the ten facilities where over 120,000 Japanese Americans were unjustly incarcerated during WWII.
Burroughs says the grant was revoked due to “changes in the administration’s funding priorities.” The museum is now also bracing for the potential loss of its IMLS grant, worth $1.25 million, intended for critical infrastructure upgrades designed to protect its 160,000-item collection.
Government Overreach into Cultural Institutions
In parallel with defunding efforts, the administration has issued executive orders aimed at purging DEI-oriented narratives from federally affiliated institutions. Recently, Vice President JD Vance was tasked with influencing the content and programming of the Smithsonian network — including JANM — to excise “divisive or anti-American ideology.”
This climate of government overreach has already led institutions like the National Gallery of Art and the Smithsonian to remove DEI language from public-facing materials. These developments flag a concerning reversal of post-2020 efforts to increase inclusivity and critical engagement in the museum sector.
Community Support in the Face of Adversity
In a remarkable show of solidarity, the public quickly responded to the museum’s plight. Following the announcement of the NEH grant termination, JANM received a surge of donations from individuals nationwide. “These came from people all over the United States, most of them new to JANM, and in amounts from $5 to $500,” said Burroughs.
Additionally, an anonymous donor stepped forward to cover the onsite costs of the workshop, ensuring its continuation. The museum is actively seeking further community support through its upcoming benefit and online auction to stabilize its finances during this turbulent time.
The Way Forward: Upholding Mission and Values
Despite the uncertainty and financial strain, JANM remains firm in its mission. Burroughs explained the institution’s unwavering commitment to DEI: “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.”
She further emphasized, “Our museum stands as a place of memory, truth, and justice, where history is not only preserved but actively used to confront contemporary threats to democracy and human dignity.”
Conclusion
The Japanese American National Museum finds itself at the intersection of history, politics, and cultural preservation. As it grapples with the consequences of federal defunding and ideological scrutiny, its resilience sends a powerful message: historical truth and social equity are not optional elements of democratic culture — they are its foundation.
In an era when historical accuracy and inclusive narratives are under siege, institutions like JANM are vital. They remind us that museums are not just guardians of artifacts but also stewards of national conscience.