Question: is the smithsonian part of the federal government

Answer: Yes, The Smithsonian Institution (/smɪθˈsoʊniən/ smith-SOH-nee-ən), established on August 10, 1846 ``for the increase and diffusion of knowledge,'' is a group of museums and research centers administered by the Government of the United States. The institution is named after its founding donor, British scientist James Smithson. Originally organized as the ``United States National Museum,'' that name ceased to exist as an administrative entity in 1967.