A view of the Smithsonian Institution Building in Washington, D.C., at sunset in September 2013.
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The Trump Administration is rapidly advancing policies to remove what it deems “woke ideology” from America’s cultural institutions.
On Thursday, President Trump signed an executive order targeting two federal funding recipients: The Smithsonian Institution and the monuments and memorials overseen by the Department of the Interior.
What does the order entail?
The executive order, titled “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,” aims at “revitalizing key cultural institutions and reversing the spread of divisive ideology.”
The order critiques the Smithsonian for allegedly promoting narratives that present American values as harmful.
Jim Grossman, Executive Director of the American Historical Association, responded by asserting that the order misrepresents the Smithsonian’s critical research contributions. He emphasized that the institution’s work is grounded in truth and patriotism.
The order mandates Vice President JD Vance, a member of the Smithsonian’s board, to eradicate what it terms “improper, divisive, or anti-American ideology” and collaborate with Congress on funding that does not “divide Americans by race.”
This directive particularly addresses the yet-to-be-constructed American Women’s History Museum, specifically forbidding the acknowledgment of transgender women as women, aligning with the Trump Administration’s stance on gender identity.
The executive order also instructs the Department of the Interior to restore any memorials altered or removed in the past five years that are considered to distort history.
These discussions arise in the context of the significant changes made to public narratives and memorials during the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020, which highlighted America’s complex history, including elements such as slavery and the marginalization of LGBTQ communities.
A portrait of President Trump in a prominent exhibition in Washington, D.C.
What actions are feasible for the administration?
While the Smithsonian operates as a public-private entity and is not a federal agency, it does receive federal funding and employs both civil servants and individuals in funded positions.
The institution’s governing body, the Board of Regents, consists of individuals including the Vice President, Chief Justice, Senators, Representatives, and civilians. The order directs Vice President JD Vance to work with Congress on appointing board members aligned with the administration’s perspective.
The current extent of the administration’s authority over the board remains ambiguous, but future funding will be contingent upon adherence to the executive order.
What response has come from the Smithsonian?
The Smithsonian has yet to issue a public statement, though it previously closed its diversity office following a similar executive order from the Trump Administration that restricted Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives.
