Restoring Trust in the Smithsonian Institution

What it does

• •Directs the Secretary of the Interior, OMB Director, GSA Administrator, and Domestic Policy Assistant to identify and use available authorities to address issues at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History identified in a prior review report.
• •Orders the National Park Service to install temporary signage on public walkways and sidewalks informing visitors of the report's findings and directing them to alternative historical resources.
• •Requires the National Park Service to install temporary exhibits or signage on public lands to correct information the order characterizes as inaccurate in the Museum, specifically regarding the signers of the Declaration of Independence.

Why it matters

• •The order responds to an internal Domestic Policy Council review concluding that Smithsonian leadership presents American history with ideological bias rather than as shared national heritage.
• •The order seeks to influence public perception of the Museum by warning visitors before they enter and providing alternative information on adjacent federal property.

Who is affected

• •The Smithsonian Institution and its National Museum of American History, which are subject to federal oversight and funding mechanisms.
• •Visitors to the Museum and the National Mall, who will encounter warning signage and alternative exhibits on NPS-maintained property.

What happens next

The Secretary of the Interior and relevant agencies are directed to implement these measures using available legal authorities, subject to applicable law and appropriations availability.