The Smithsonian National Zoological Park is facing renewed scrutiny over programming and institutional partnerships tied to diversity, equity and inclusion, LGBTQ outreach, gender equity and climate-related messaging, according to reporting cited by Fox News and The Washington Stand.
The Washington, D.C., zoo has promoted inclusion efforts in recent years, including the Association of Minority Zoo and Aquarium Professionals. In a 2021 Smithsonian article, curator Craig Saffoe wrote that, as a Black man in the zoo field, he had long noticed “the dearth of black and brown faces” in the profession and decided to help address it.
Zoo Outreach Draws Conservative Criticism
The zoo has also hosted an annual International Family Equality Day, described as outreach to the LGBTQ community. In 2024, the event involved groups including the DC Center for the LGBTQ Community, Rainbow Families and the Smithsonian Pride Alliance, according to the source material.
Some reportedly referred to the event as “Gay Day at the Zoo.” The zoo included rainbow-themed animal enrichment and treats, including colorful ice cakes, for animals throughout the park.
Critics argue that such programming moves the institution beyond animal conservation and into ideological advocacy.
Gabriella Hoffman, director of the Independent Women’s Forum Center for Energy and Conservation, told The Washington Stand that civic institutions should be free from ideology.
“The Smithsonian Zoo should be an escape from politics, not an extension of it. Americans want a refuge from socio-political lectures and guilt-trips,” Hoffman said.
Climate and Equity Language Under the Microscope
A 2021 Smithsonian zoo article titled “Connecting Ocean Conservation from Sea to Sky” also connected social policy to environmental outcomes. In that piece, seabird ecologist Autumn-Lynn Harrison and coral biologist Mary Hagedorn wrote that “Gender equity, civil liberties and justice are necessary ingredients for peace and prosperity, but they also have a direct impact on resource use and climate change.”
The zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, whose website states that it embeds DEI in its work. In 2020, the AZA wrote that “systemic racism is embedded in our structures, culture and organizations,” and said it was committed to change that dismantles such barriers.
The Smithsonian is also a member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, which has highlighted gender-based discrimination, bias and violence against women environmental defenders, including Indigenous women, as issues requiring attention.
Hoffman argued that conservation should not require what she called “divisive alphabet initiatives.”
“Conservation is inherently welcoming to all,” she told The Washington Stand. “Divisive alphabet initiatives will incur more harm than good to inspire the next generation of conservationists who want to recover imperiled species that are frequently showcased in zoos.”
Trump Administration Pressure Adds New Stakes
The controversy comes amid the Trump administration’s broader push to cut ideological messaging in federal programs. In January 2025, the Smithsonian Zoo shut down its Office of Diversity after President Donald Trump’s executive order targeting federal DEI programs, according to the source material.
Critics cited in the report argue that DEI-related ideas remain present in Smithsonian-linked programming despite that closure.
The zoo is not the only Smithsonian institution to draw White House attention. On July 4, the White House released a Domestic Policy Council report titled “Saving America’s Story,” which criticized diversity, equity and inclusion content in Smithsonian National Museum of American History educational materials.
According to the source material, the report said the museum described itself as a site for social action and held youth conferences exploring topics including “gender equality” and “teen resistance to systemic racism.”
At the time, a Smithsonian spokesperson told ABC News that the institution has served the public for more than 180 years with “nonpartisan and independent scholarship” and remains committed to doing so. The spokesperson also said the museum “remains committed to impartial learning.”
