White House Report on Smithsonian Bias

Date announced: July 04, 2026

Executive Order: Release of White House Domestic Policy Council report accusing the Smithsonian of “political activism”

Key Provisions:

• The report is in response to The Trump Administration’s March 27, 2025 Executive Order 14253: Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History.” The order asks Vice President J.D. Vance and the Domestic Policy Council to complete a review of the National Museum of American History. 
• The 162-page report accuses the Smithsonian Institution of engaging in “radical activism” and takes aim at exhibits that address immigration, slavery, LGBTQ Americans, the country’s founding, and a plethora of topics that the administration claims do not accurately reflect American history. 
• After the report, Trump ordered signs on National Park Service maintained sidewalks that would notify visitors that the administration believes that exhibits should be renovated and directing visitors to locations for sources that the administration deems to be accurate. 

Threats to Religious Freedom:

• The report suggests that the museum should be promoting versions of American history that align with Christian nationalist talking points, including that the rights of Americans are derived from a Christian God, and that the country’s religious background should be celebrated. 
• Such an intrusion into the museum undermines the historians who create the exhibits, and promotes a false narrative about the Founding Fathers as well as well as the country’s foundational documents. This may lead folks to believe these narratives if they aren’t aware of the country’s secular founding. 
• Ultimately, the museum should not be used as a way to promote Christian nationalism, especially given that the museum is free to the public and funded predominantly by taxpayer dollars. Such places should be inclusive of all who walk through the doors.