You may recall that Trump announced he had fired Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery Director Kim Sajet late last month. But as I wrote in my post about that, it seemed pretty clear Trump did not have the authority to do so. The head of the Smithsonian came to the same conclusion and the Smithsonian’s Board of Regents publicly agreed. One member of that board is John Roberts, chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.
The regents’ response is a direct refutation of Trump’s authority. On Monday night, the Board issued a statement saying, “All personnel decisions are made by and subject to the direction of the Secretary, with oversight by the Board. Lonnie G. Bunch, the Secretary, has the support of the Board of Regents in his authority and management of the Smithsonian.”
That must have sent Trump’s baby fingers a-quiver.
Meanwhile, Sajet “has continued to report for work, conducting meetings and handling other museum business as she did before,” The Washington Post reports.
However, this fight far from over.
