The White House will vet Smithsonian content ahead of the United States’s 250th birthday, ensuring its exhibits will be in line with the administration’s historical vision.
White House senior associate Lindsey Halligan, Domestic Policy Council head Vince Haley, and Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought sent a letter to Smithsonian Institution Secretary Lonnie Bunch, saying they wanted the institution to show “unity, progress, and enduring values that define the American story,” the Wall Street Journal reported. The initiative is part of President Donald Trump’s March 27 executive order “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History.”
“This initiative aims to ensure alignment with the president’s directive to celebrate American exceptionalism, remove divisive or partisan narratives, and restore confidence in our shared cultural institutions,” the Tuesday letter read.
Trump had laid out his plan for the Smithsonian early in his second term, bemoaning in his aforementioned executive order that the institution had “come under the influence of a divisive, race-centered ideology” that promotes “narratives that portray American and Western values as inherently harmful and oppressive.”
The executive order was used last week to announce the restoration of a statue of Albert Pike, the only statue of a Confederate general in Washington, D.C. The statue had been torn down by rioters in 2020.
As part of the Smithsonian overhaul, the White House will eye public exhibition text, online content, internal curatorial processes, exhibition planning, and the use of collections and artist grants, according to the Wall Street Journal. Particular focus will be directed to the Smithsonian’s exhibitions celebrating the 250th birthday of the U.S. The White House’s letter requested that the institution choose a representative to work directly with the administration to plan the 250th anniversary festivities.
The letter stressed that the administration doesn’t intend to interfere with “day-to-day operations of curators or staff” but wants “to support a broader vision of excellence that highlights historically accurate, uplifting, and inclusive portrayals of America’s heritage.”
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In a statement to the outlet, the Smithsonian said it would cooperate with the White House.
“The Smithsonian’s work is grounded in a deep commitment to scholarly excellence, rigorous research, and the accurate, factual presentation of history,” the Smithsonian said. “We are reviewing the letter with this commitment in mind and will continue to collaborate constructively with the White House, Congress, and our governing Board of Regents.”