President Donald J. Trump Restores Trust in the Smithsonian Institution

RESTORING TRUST IN THE SMITHSONIAN: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order to reestablish confidence in the Smithsonian Institution. As illustrated by the Domestic Policy Council’s report, Saving America’s Story: How Ideological Capture at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History Erases Our Heritage (Report), the Smithsonian is failing to tell America’s story with honesty, seriousness, and pride. The Order directs the Secretary of the Interior, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, the Administrator of General Services, and the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy to restore trust in the Smithsonian Institution by utilizing all available authorities to encourage it to correct the issues found in the Report and to comply with existing laws, funding requirements, and contract conditions. The Order directs the Secretary of the Interior to install temporary signage near the Museum, informing visitors of the findings of the Report and directing visitors to accurate information regarding America’s history. The Order directs the Secretary of the Interior to install temporary exhibits or signage for the public that corrects inaccurate information presented in the National Museum of American History to ensure America’s Founders are honored during its 250th year. SAVING AMERICA’S STORY FROM CORROSIVE IDEOLOGY: In the last decade, Americans have witnessed a concerted effort to rewrite American history and force our Nation to adopt a factually baseless ideology aimed at discrediting American heroes and diminishing American achievement. The Domestic Policy Council’s Report conclusively shows that Smithsonian and Museum leadership have directed the Museum’s mission away from historical education and scholarship of a shared national inheritance to be celebrated, and toward extreme political activism, rooted in Marxism, to divide, dispirit, and discourage Americans. The Report demonstrates that the Smithsonian cannot be trusted to tell America’s story honestly and is therefore not properly stewarding the over $1 billion entrusted to it by the American taxpayer each year. President Trump is fighting back to restore one of the Nation’s greatest civic treasures to its founding mission and purpose and reestablish truth in the Nation’s historical narrative. CELEBRATING OUR HERITAGE: President Trump is committed to ensuring that American history is celebrated accurately, fairly, and with pride—honoring the remarkable progress, liberty, and ingenuity that define our great Nation. On his first day in office, President Trump signed an Executive Order to establish a task force to prepare for America’s 250th birthday, inspire a renewed love for American history, encourage citizens to experience the beauty of our country, ignite a spirit of innovation to help our nation succeed for the next 250 years, and invite Americans to pray for our country. The task force launched numerous once-in-a-generation events for all Americans to celebrate their Nation’s 250th birthday such as Rededicate 250, The Great American State Fair, Teddy Roosevelt Presidential Library Opening, International Naval Review & Sail 4th, Salute to America, and the Patriot Games Competition. This Order also protected America’s monuments from vandalism and called for the construction of the National Garden of American Heroes. In March 2025, President Trump signed an Executive Order to restore truth and sanity to American history by revitalizing key cultural institutions and reversing the spread of divisive ideology. In March 2025, President Trump signed an Executive Order to make Washington, D.C. what it should be—the pride of every American to whom it belongs and established the D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force to restore and beautify monuments, statues, memorials, and parks. To celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, the task force installed a series of statues at Freedom Plaza, honoring the heroes and martyrs of the American Revolution. In August 2025, President Trump signed an Executive Order to restore respect, pride, and sanctity to the American flag and prosecute those who desecrate this symbol of our freedom, identity, and strength to the fullest extent of the law. Executive Order: By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered: Section 1. Policy. On March 27, 2025, I issued Executive Order 14253 (Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History). Pursuant to that order, the Domestic Policy Council recently completed a months-long review of the Smithsonian Institution and its National Museum of American History (Museum) and issued its findings in the report entitled Saving America’s Story: How Ideological Capture at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History Erases Our Heritage (Report). The Report demonstrates that the Smithsonian leadership does not present American history as a shared national inheritance to be taught and celebrated, but instead views American history as a “prime tool” to advance ideas of social justice and the radical transformation of our society. The Report also overwhelmingly demonstrates that current leadership of both the Smithsonian Institution and the Museum cannot be trusted to tell America’s story with honesty and gratitude. It is therefore the policy of my Administration to take all available steps to ensure that the issues identified in the Report are addressed and to restore trust in the Smithsonian Institution. Sec. 2. Restoring Trust in the Smithsonian Institution. The Secretary of the Interior, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, the Administrator of General Services, and the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy shall identify and utilize any and all available authorities to promote the policy of this order and to restore trust in the Smithsonian Institution, including any mechanisms available to encourage correction of the issues identified in the Report and compliance with any applicable statutes, regulations, executive actions, and funding or contract conditions. Sec. 3. Warning Visitors About the Ideological Capture at the National Museum of American History. (a) The Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the National Park Service (NPS) and in coordination with the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy, shall install temporary signage along the NPS-maintained sidewalks and walkways used by the public to access the Museum, informing visitors of the findings of the Report and of the policy set forth in section 1 of this order. Such signage shall notify visitors that the Museum exhibits should be renovated consistent with the findings in the Report and direct visitors to locations and resources for accurate information regarding America’s history. (b) Because the Museum has failed to appropriately honor the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence during this 250th anniversary year of the founding of our country, the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the NPS and in coordination with the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy, shall install temporary exhibits or signage on NPS-maintained sidewalks, walkways, and land used by the public that corrects inaccurate information presented in the Museum. Sec. 4. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect: (i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or (ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals. (b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations. (c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person. (d) The costs for publication of this order shall be borne by the Department of the Interior. DONALD J. TRUMP THE WHITE HOUSE, July 24, 2026.