Dems oppose Women's History Museum bill over requirement to only honor 'biological women'

By Samantha Kamman, Christian Post Reporter Friday, March 20, 2026

Proponents of a measure to build a Smithsonian museum exclusively honoring women criticized House Democrats for withdrawing support after language was added to the proposal to ensure the museum exhibits only women, not men who identify as female.

On Wednesday, the Committee on House Administration passed HR 1329, the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum Act. The legislation passed the committee in a 7-4 vote along party lines, with all Republicans in favor and all Democrats opposed.

“Americans should not fund a museum that compromises on the definition of a biological woman. House Democrats who voted against this proposal should reconsider their stance instead of playing identity politics,” Penny Nance, president and CEO of Concerned Women for America, said in a statement provided to The Christian Post.

“Our elected leaders must prioritize accuracy and fairness and acknowledge biological realities in this matter,” the conservative leader continued. “Biological women are tired of being erased from history, and without a congressional mandate, they will be in the Women’s History Museum.”

The bill, introduced by Republican Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., would authorize the construction of a Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum on the National Mall. 

While Democrats initially supported the measure, they objected to the substitute amendment from Republican Rep. Mary Miller, R-Ill., which included language emphasizing that the museum's purpose is to honor women. 

According to the amendment, the museum “may not identify, present, describe, or otherwise depict any biological male as a female.” The amendment also states that the museum “shall be dedicated to preserving, researching, and presenting the history, achievements, and lived experiences of biological women in the United States.”

Democrats also opposed a provision stating that the president may designate an alternative site for the museum within 180 days if issues arise.

Malliotakis commented on Democrats on the House Administration Committee voting against HR 1329 because of the amendment, writing in a Wednesday X post, “What a way to celebrate #WomensHistoryMonth!”

Democratic Rep. Mark Takano, D-Calif., who serves as chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus, accused Republicans on the Committee on House Administration of “poisoning the bill with an anti-trans rider and a provision giving Trump unilateral control over the building’s location.” 

“Let me be clear: the Museum should highlight the experiences of all women, including [trans-identified males]. The original bill, however, had nothing to do with the content of the museum until Republicans added this partisan rider,” Takano stated. “It’s beyond disappointing to see years of hard, bipartisan work be flushed down the toilet by Republicans on this committee in order to stage a show vote.”

“If Republicans truly cared about celebrating women’s history and ensuring a site for this museum, they would have moved forward with the original bipartisan text — which I and more than 100 of my Democratic colleagues cosponsored — rather than this poisoned, partisan pony show,” he claimed.

In a Wednesday statement about the bill, former collegiate swimmer Riley Gaines questioned the opposition to an amendment that makes clear a Women’s History Museum should focus on honoring the history and achievements of women. 

“A Women’s History Museum is one step closer to the National Mall,” Gaines stated. “It passed out of committee, BUT only along party lines after an amendment was added to ensure it honors real women, not men identifying as women.”

“Yes, that’s where the debate is in 2026,” the women’s sports advocate added. 

The amendment to HR 1329 aligns with President Donald Trump’s executive order from March 2025 titled “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,” which outlined a plan for restoring historical sites impacted by “corrosive ideology.”

Regarding the forthcoming Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum, the order declared that the vice president and the director of the Office of Management and Budget will work with Congress to ensure future appropriations to the Smithsonian Institution “celebrate the achievements of women in the American Women’s History Museum and do not recognize men as women in any respect in the Museum.”