The entry to the Smithsonian Institution’s Smithsonian Castle in Washington, D.C.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday, directing Vice President JD Vance to eliminate “divisive race-centered ideology” within Smithsonian museums, educational and research centers, and the National Zoo.
Entitled “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,” this executive order claims that the Smithsonian Institution, once a symbol of excellence, has recently embraced a divisive ideology that misrepresents American values. The order emphasizes that museums should be educational spaces rather than platforms for ideological indoctrination.
The order instructs Vance, alongside other top advisers, to collaborate with Congress to prevent the Smithsonian from receiving funds for exhibitions and programs deemed harmful to shared American values. It also advocates for ensuring that future funding highlights the achievements of women in the American Women’s History Museum, while rejecting the recognition of gender identities that do not align with traditional definitions.
Responses from the Smithsonian regarding this initiative have yet to materialize.
The executive order also proposes appointing citizen members to the Smithsonian Board of Regents who are committed to the order’s policy objectives.
This action is part of a broader initiative by the administration to revoke Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts previously instituted by federal agencies, including programs aimed at supporting underserved communities.
The order criticizes the prior administration for allegedly promoting a “corrosive ideology” that seeks to distort historical truths. It asserts that there has been a widespread attempt to revise American history, supplanting factual accounts with narratives driven by ideology instead of objective truth. The order advocates for restoring public monuments and historical memorials that have been altered or removed, seeking to correct what it describes as a distorted representation of American history.
