MINUTES OF THE AUGUST 21, 2017, TELECONFERENCE MEETING 

OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS

ATTENDANCE

On August 21, 2017, the Board of Regents (“Board”) of the Smithsonian Institution (“Smithsonian”) 

convened a special telephonic meeting to consider the approval of the fiscal year 2018 federal and trust 

consolidated budget and the fiscal year 2019 federal budget priorities. The Board received an update on 

the revitalization of the National Air and Space Museum (“NASM”), the Smithsonian Women’s History 

Museum Act, the National Museum of the American Latino Act, and the Open and Transparent 

Smithsonian Act of 2015. Board Chair David M. Rubenstein, called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. 

Participating were:

Representative Sam Johnson

Representative Doris Matsui

Steve Case, Vice Chair

John Fahey

Roger W. Ferguson, Jr.

Michael Govan

Risa Lavizzo-Mourey

Michael Lynton

John W. McCarter, Jr.

David M. Rubenstein 

Robert MacDonald, Smithsonian National Board Chair

The Chief Justice, Vice President, Senator John Boozman, Senator Patrick Leahy, Senator David Perdue, 

Representative Tom Cole, and Ambassador Barbara M. Barrett were unable to participate in the meeting. 

Smithsonian and Regent staff present by invitation of the Board were:

David J. Skorton, Secretary

Greg Abbott, Government Relations Liaison

Greg Bettwy, Chief of Staff to the Secretary

John Davis, Provost/Under Secretary for Museums

 and Research

Zully Dorr, Acting Assistant Secretary for 

 Advancement 

Julie Eddy, Office of Representative Matsui

Jennifer Ehlinger, Senior Officer for Programs and 

 Operations

Kate Forester, Deputy Chief of Staff to the Regents

Amanda Hamilton, Office of Representative

 Johnson

Lauren Hancock, Office of Senator Perdue 

Toni-Marie Higgins, Office of Senator Boozman

Albert Horvath, Under Secretary for Finance 

 and Administration/Chief Financial Officer 

Judith Leonard, General Counsel

Philip LoPiccolo, Government Relations Officer 

Carolyn Martin, Acting Assistant Secretary for 

Communications and External Affairs

Kevin McDonald, Office of Senator Leahy

Steven M. Pinkos, Office of the Vice President 

Maura Reidy, Acting Director for the Office of 

Government Relations 

Porter N. Wilkinson, Chief of Staff to the Regen
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SPECIAL TELEPHONIC MEETING

Actions of the Board of 

Regents

Presentation of Fiscal 

Year 2018 Budget

Discussion of Proposed 

Budget

Approval of Fiscal Year 

2018 Budget

In accordance with Board bylaw 2.04, the Board of Regents conducted a special 

telephonic meeting on Monday, August 21, 2017, and approved the following 

motions.

APPROVAL OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2018 FEDERAL AND TRUST 

CONSOLIDATED BUDGET

Under Secretary for Finance and Administration/Chief Financial Officer

Al Horvath presented the fiscal year 2018 federal and trust consolidated budget 

for review and consideration. The Board was briefed on the projected financial 

needs of the institution and the potential challenges for the Smithsonian is funded 

at a substantially lower level than the request. 

The Smithsonian’s fiscal year 2018 federal appropriation request of $947.0 million 

is included at such amount in the President’s budget, however, the House Interior 

Appropriations bill is at $885.1 million in the July markup. The Senate Interior 

Appropriation markup is expected in September and the capital funding being 

proposed by the Senate majority is ranging from $134 million to $149 million. It is 

likely that fiscal year 2018 will begin under a continuing resolution. Given the 

current federal fiscal realities, Mr. Horvath explained that it would be prudent 

for the Smithsonian to prepare for a fiscal year 2018 budget that will be funded 

substantially below the requested level. If the fiscal year 2018 budget is 

funded at the fiscal year 2017 enacted level ($863.3 million) through a 

continuing resolution or another funding vehicle, the Smithsonian may have 

the opportunity to submit an operating plan allowing the flexibility of moving 

funds from “Facilities Capital” to “Salaries and Expenses,” if necessary. 

The Board of Regents reviewed the Smithsonian Institution’s fiscal year 2018 

consolidated budget based on the fiscal year 2018 federal appropriation request. 

The Board approved the budget based on appropriated funds for fiscal year 2018 

when signed into law by the President and trust funds for fiscal year 2018, and 

authorized expenditures by the Secretary in accordance therewith. The Board 

recognizes that federal funding ultimately approved by Congress may be below the 

requested level and noted that any material changes in program or capital plans 

shall be presented to the Board of Regents or its Executive Committee for 

approval.

See attached Actions 2017.08.01 (Minutes of the Board of Regents, Appendix A).
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Presentation of Fiscal

Year 2019 Federal 

Budget Priorities

Discussion of Proposed 

Budget Priorities

Adoption of Budget

Priorities

Secretary’s Update

NASM Revitalization 

Project and 

Appropriations

Smithsonian Women’s 

History Museum Act 

APPROVAL OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2019 FEDERAL BUDGET 

PRIORITIES

Mr. Horvath next presented the fiscal year 2019 federal budget priorities. The 

2019 federal budget priorities will be used by the Smithsonian to develop the fiscal 

year 2019 federal budget. The fiscal year 2019 budget request that will be based 

upon these priorities is due to the Office of Management and Budget (“OMB”) on 

September 11, 2017.

OMB released guidance stating that the fiscal year 2019 budget will be at the same 

level of funding as fiscal year 2018 ($947 million). Agencies may identify added 

investments in effective programs that is no more than five percent above the 

submission level (i.e., +$47 million). The fiscal year 2019 budget priorities include 

Salaries and Expenses, which include non-discretionary cost increases, research 

and museum program infrastructure, institution facilities maintenance, and 

security and support, as well as Facilities Capital, which includes the revitalization 

project of the National Air and Space Museum ($127 million) and additional 

renewal and revitalization projects across the Smithsonian.

The Board reviewed and approved the fiscal year 2019 federal budget priorities.

See attached Actions 2017.08.02 (Minutes of the Board of Regents, Appendix A).

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY

Secretary Skorton provided the Board with an update on the NASM revitalization 

project, and several items of pending legislation related to the Smithsonian.

The Secretary updated the Board on the NASM revitalization project and explained 

that the Smithsonian may not secure sufficient funding in fiscal year 2018 in order 

to begin the NASM revitalization construction project. While the Office of 

Management and Budget (“OMB”) approved the Smithsonian’s fiscal year 2018 

request to Congress for facilities funding at $228M, the House Interior and Related 

Agencies’ full committee mark-up on July 18, 2017, would provide facilities funding 

to the Smithsonian in the amount of $168.5M. Discussions with the Senate in 

preparation for the Senate mark-up expected in early September 2017 are 

progressing. Facilities Capital funding being proposed by the Senate majority 

could range from $134M to $149M. The Secretary shared projected impacts to 

Facilities Capital projects should federal appropriations be funded at the levels 

currently being discussed by Congress.

The Secretary provided an update on three legislative items being discussed by 

Congress. First, he discussed the Women’s History Museum Acts introduced in 

both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. On June 29, 2017, Senator 

Collins (R-ME) introduced S. 1498, the Smithsonian American Women's History 
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National Museum of the 

American Latino Act

Museum Act. This bill is similar to HR 19, the Smithsonian Women's History 

Museum Act, introduced by Representative Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) on April 4, 

2017. S. 1498 establishes a comprehensive American women's history museum 

within the Smithsonian Institution to provide for: (1) the collection, study, and 

establishment of programs related to women's contributions that have influenced 

the direction of the United States; (2) collaboration with other Smithsonian 

museums and facilities, outside museums, and educational institutions; and (3) the 

creation of exhibitions and programs that recognize diverse perspectives on 

women's history and contributions. In addition to selecting the site between the 

two choices in the House bill—the South Monument site (mirroring NMAAHC) and 

the Capitol site (currently the Senate parking lot))—S. 1498 allows for the 

consideration of an additional un-named site as determined by the Smithsonian 

Institution Board of Regents. S. 1498 also calls for the Regents to construct the 

museum with funds from non-federal sources. Federal funds would be provided 

for the planning, design, and operation of the museum. The Senate bill currently 

has 15 cosponsors, all Democrats. The House bill has 248 cosponsors, 191 

Democrats and 57 Republicans. 

Next, the Secretary provided an update on the proposed legislation regarding the 

National Museum of the American Latino. On June 15, 2017, Senator Menendez 

(D-NJ) and Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) introduced identical bills in 

the Senate (S.1364) and the House (HR 2911), calling for the establishment of the 

National Museum of the American Latino within the Smithsonian Institution. HR 

2911 has been referred to the Committees on House Administration, Natural 

Resources, and Transportation and Infrastructure; S. 1364 has been referred to 

Senate Rules and Administration. Among other things, the bills authorize the 

creation of a Board of Trustees to help plan and design the museum and develop 

the museum’s collections. The legislation also allows the Board to explore several 

sites for the museum, including the Capitol Site, the Arts & Industries Building, the 

South Monument site, and the Whitten Building. This legislation does not 

appropriate any federal funding for the project but authorizes the Board of 

Regents to use future appropriations for the cost of planning, construction, and 

operation of the museum by establishing a 50/50 cost-sharing model between 

future appropriated funding and private fundraising.

With respect to both museums, the Secretary reiterated the Smithsonian’s stance 

with regard to constructing and funding new museums. He explained that given 

the recent opening of the National Museum of African American History and 

Culture, the revitalization of NASM, and deferred-maintenance backlog

for a number of Smithsonian buildings on the National Mall, the construction and

opening of an entirely new museum run by the Smithsonian is not a practical

undertaking in the near-term. He emphasized that the Smithsonian remains

committed to celebrating American history and culture in all its dimensions and

will continue to work to ensure that all Americans’ contributions are aptly

represented across the Institution’s already established museums.
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H.R. 3387, Open and 

Transparent 

Smithsonian Act of 2015

Lastly, the Secretary updated the Board on H.R. 3387, the Open and 

Transparent Smithsonian Act of 2015, introduced in the previous Congress 

by Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC). The bill would have subjected 

the Smithsonian to the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act, 

the Sunshine Act, the Privacy Act, and the Federal Advisory Committee Act. 

Smithsonian staff met with members of Ms. Norton’s staff to explain that, 

although these Acts do not apply by their terms to the Smithsonian because 

it is not an executive branch agency, the Smithsonian has adopted policies 

and practices consistent with the principles animating these laws, while 

recognizing the Smithsonian’s unique status. Following the briefing, Ms. 

Norton expressed satisfaction with the Smithsonian’s disclosure policies 

and acknowledged the bill could have unintended consequences for the 

Institution. Ms. Norton informed the Smithsonian that she does not plan to 

reintroduce the bill this Congress. 

EXECUTIVE SESSION

The Board then entered into an executive session at approximately 9:53 a.m. to 

discuss sensitive matters related to security and donor relations.

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business to discuss, the meeting adjourned at

approximately 9:59 a.m.

Respectfully submitted,

David J. Skorton

Secretary
APPENDIX A: ACTIONS OF THE AUGUST 21, 2017, TELECONFERENCE MEETING OF 

THE BOARD OF REGENTS

The Board of Regents reviewed the Smithsonian Institution’s fiscal year 2018 consolidated 

budget based on the fiscal year 2018 federal appropriation request and VOTED to approve the 

budget based on appropriated funds for fiscal year 2018 when signed into law by the President, 

the institutional budget for trust funds for fiscal year 2018 reflected in this report, and 

authorizes expenditures by the Secretary in accordance therewith. Federal funding ultimately 

approved by Congress may be below the requested level. Any material changes in program or 

capital plans incorporated into this budget shall be presented to the Board of Regents or its 

Executive Committee for approval. [2017.08.01]

VOTED that that the Board of Regents approves the fiscal year 2019 federal budget priorities 

proposed by the Secretary. [2017.08.02]