The Trump administration has conducted a 16-month review of the Smithsonian Institution, examining museum exhibits, educational programming, internal records, and leadership statements. The review process involved multiple document requests, interviews with curators, and on-site walkthroughs at the institution.
Following the review, the White House Domestic Policy Council released a 162-page report titled 'Saving America's Story'. The report concluded that the National Museum of American History has undergone 'ideological capture'. It recommends that political activism be removed from museum exhibits and that displays be restored to emphasize national achievements, patriotic history, and America's founding principles.
Executive orders and oversight
Two months into his second term, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order titled 'Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History'. This order argues that federal cultural institutions, including the Smithsonian Institution, have promoted 'divisive' ideological narratives. The order tasks the White House Domestic Policy Council and Vice President JD Vance, acting in his role as a Smithsonian Regent, with reviewing the institution's programs and exhibits.
President Trump also signed the 'Restoring Trust in the Smithsonian Institution' executive order. This directive instructs the US Department of the Interior, the US Office of Management and Budget, the US General Services Administration, and the White House Domestic Policy Council to encourage the Smithsonian to address the findings of the 'Saving America's Story' report.
Criticism of museum programming
The White House Domestic Policy Council initiated an investigation specifically focusing on the National Museum of American History. The administration criticized the museum for discontinuing its traditional Flag Day ceremonies and for holding no special Independence Day programming in 2025, despite being open on July 4.
The White House has also raised concerns regarding the institution's upcoming 250th anniversary commemorations. The administration claims that 250 installations intended for the US 250th anniversary emphasize the flaws of the United States while providing insufficient attention to the American Revolution, the Declaration of Independence, and the Founders. The White House stated that the anniversary exhibition repackages existing displays rather than creating a new exhibit focused on the founding era.
The Smithsonian's signature exhibition for America's 250th anniversary features 250 objects, including George Washington's uniform and Thomas Jefferson's writing desk.
Documentation and deadlines
The investigation, which stems from the March 2025 executive order, focused significantly on how the National Museum of American History portrayed and classified illegal migration in its exhibits.
In a letter to Smithsonian Secretary Bunch, the White House stated that the institution has failed to provide most of the requested records during the review. The administration has set a deadline of Jan. 13, 2026, for the Smithsonian Institution to produce requested materials, including governance materials, curatorial documents, exhibition plans, and other records.
