The White House is planning an extensive review into the Smithsonian Institution to ensure that its exhibitions reflect the administration’s view of American history ahead of the country's 250th birthday — a move that comes amid President Donald Trump’s broader takeover of the nation’s cultural institutions.
In a letter sent to Smithsonian Institution Secretary Lonnie Bunch and subsequently posted on the White House website on Tuesday, three administration officials outlined areas subject to review and revision in an effort to “reflect the unity, progress, and enduring values that define the American story.”
"This initiative aims to ensure alignment with the President’s directive to celebrate American exceptionalism, remove divisive or partisan narratives, and restore confidence in our shared cultural institutions,” senior associate staff secretary Lindsey Halligan, Domestic Policy Council Director Vince Haley and Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought wrote in the letter.
The review aims to adjust not only the museums’ public exhibitions, planning and curation, but also narrative standards and collection use.
The move is the latest in a sweeping effort by the Trump administration to overhaul how American history and culture is taught and presented in institutions across the country — from universities to museums to Washington’s Kennedy Center for the performing arts.
The letter outlines that within 30 days, eight Smithsonian museums should select a representative to liaise with the administration and provide a list of selected materials for review.
Within 120 days, the museums will have a set window to institute any changes sought by the administration, “replacing divisive or ideologically driven language with unifying, historically accurate, and constructive descriptions.”
Still, the administration officials maintained that their goal “is not to interfere with the day-to-day operations of curators or staff, but rather to support a broader vision of excellence that highlights historically accurate, uplifting, and inclusive portrayals of America’s heritage.”
The initial phase of the project will target the National Museum of American History, National Museum of Natural History, National Museum of African American History and Culture, National Museum of the American Indian, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian American Art Museum, National Portrait Gallery and Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden.
The administration officials said the museum network should promote the idea of “Americanism — the people, principles, and progress that define our nation,” in order to “renew the Smithsonian’s role as the world’s leading museum institution.”
“Phase II” of the review will involve an additional list of museums, the letter previewed.
A spokesperson for the Smithsonian did not respond to a request for comment.
Trump has specifically targeted the Smithsonian Institution, singling it out in a March executive order on “restoring truth and sanity to American history.” The president railed against the network of museums, saying it had “come under the influence of a divisive, race-centered ideology” and its various branches “portray American and Western values as inherently harmful and oppressive.”
In an effort to pivot to a more positive retelling of American history, Trump assigned Vice President JD Vance to remove “improper ideology” from the institution's museums, education centers and zoo — a directive that has involved challenging any language perceived to discuss diversity, equity and inclusion, trans people, or the history of systemic racism in the U.S.
Halligan, an attorney by trade, was also named directly in that executive order to work “in consultation” with Vance.
“I would say that improper ideology would be weaponizing history,” Halligan told The Washington Post in a profile published in April. “We don’t need to overemphasize the negative to teach people that certain aspects of our nation’s history may have been bad.”
Tuesday’s letter is only the latest interference with the institution’s operations and personnel.
Trump in May declared that he was firing Kim Sajet, the longtime director of the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery. While the institution maintained that the president had no authority to remove her, Sajet, who was the first woman to hold the position, stepped down from the role in June.
Earlier this month, the Smithsonian said it had removed a reference to Trump’s 2019 and 2021 impeachments from one of its exhibits. The institution denied that the decision was in response to pressure from the administration, and later restored a version of the exhibit.
Comments