President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing the Smithsonian Institution to remove what he referred to as “divisive narratives” and “improper ideology” from its museums and programs last month.
The order, issued on March 27, placed Vice President JD Vance as a member of the Smithsonian’s Board of Regents and responsible for overseeing these changes.
Vance is expected to collaborate with the Smithsonian’s Board of Regents, which consists of 17 members, including prominent Democrats such as Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto and Sen. Gary Peters.
The Vice President will also lead efforts to reshape museum exhibits, educational programs and research centers to align with what the administration describes as a more “unifying” portrayal of American history, according to the Smithsonian website.
Trump said the move is necessary to counter what he described as a “distorted narrative” pushed by federal institutions, according to the executive order. He alleged that the last decade has seen a “concerted and widespread” effort to undermine traditional views of American history.
One of the most visited Smithsonians, the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC), was referenced directly in the order.
Trump accused the museum of promoting narratives that “divide Americans” rather than celebrating shared values.
The director of the NMAAHC, Kevin Young, has gone on personal leave, according to an internal email obtained by The Washington Post. It remains unclear if Young’s leave is related to the order or part of a broader institutional response.
The executive order follows Trump’s previous actions targeting diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
Earlier in his administration, he called for the removal of DEI programs in federal agencies and directed the firing of top Smithsonian officials such as Colleen Shogan within the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).
Trump also tasked the Office of Management and Budget with ensuring no federal funding supports Smithsonian programs that he claimed promote “divisive” content.
However, immediate funding cuts have yet to be announced.
In a related development, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) has placed its entire staff on administrative leave. The IMLS, a relatively small federal agency with around 70 employees, provides grant funding to museums and libraries across the United States.
The agency has not issued a statement on whether the staffing decision is connected to the executive order.
The executive order does not halt ongoing projects such as the construction of the Smithsonian Women’s History Museum. The administration does not have the sole authority to cancel the project without approval from Congress, according to ABC.
In addition to targeting museum content, the order directs the Department of the Interior to restore Confederate monuments that were removed in response to the Black Lives Matter protests of 2020.
Trump and his supporters argue that the order will ensure that American history is taught in a way that “inspires pride” and “promotes national unity,” as stated in the executive order.
Trump characterized the Smithsonian’s current programming as promoting “ideological indoctrination” rather than fostering understanding.
However, some Americans have voiced their opposition. Ernest Williams, a lifelong Washington D.C. resident, stood in front of the NMAAHC on April 4. in protest.
Holding a sign reading “Our History Matters,” he said. “The museum’s exhibits provided him with a deeper understanding of my African American heritage.”
The Smithsonian Institution has not issued a detailed response. “We have no comment for now,” Linda St. Thomas, the institution’s chief spokesperson said in an email on April 3.
Copy edited by Aniyah Genama
