President Donald Trump has signed a new executive order directing Vice President JD Vance to lead efforts in removing what he calls “improper ideology” from major federal cultural institutions, including the Smithsonian Institution and the National Zoo.
The order, issued on Thursday, focuses on changing how American history and values are presented at museums, parks, and public education centers under federal control.
What the Executive Order Says
Trump’s executive order claims that the Smithsonian Institution, once respected globally, has recently adopted a “divisive, race-centered ideology” that portrays American and Western values as negative.
“It is the policy of my Administration to restore Federal sites… to solemn and uplifting public monuments,” the order reads. “These should remind Americans of our shared heritage and progress as a free and prosperous nation.”
Trump stressed that museums in Washington, D.C. and across the country should be centers of learning, not places for what he calls “ideological indoctrination.”
JD Vance’s Role on the Smithsonian Board
As Vice President, JD Vance is also a member of the Smithsonian Institution’s Board of Regents. Trump’s order specifically tasks him with using this position to “remove improper ideology” from Smithsonian properties — including museums, education centers, and the National Zoo.
Vance is also asked to recommend additional steps the administration can take to fully carry out the order’s goals.
Restrictions on Funding and Museum Content
In addition to these instructions, Trump’s executive order calls for:
- Banning federal funding for museum exhibits or programs that “degrade shared American values,” promote racial division, or support ideologies that “conflict with federal policy.”
- Blocking the American Women’s History Museum from recognizing transgender women as women in any form, a move that has already sparked criticism from human rights and LGBTQ+ advocacy groups.
Background: Smithsonian Under Scrutiny
The Smithsonian Institution oversees several of America’s most well-known museums and cultural landmarks, including the National Museum of American History, Air and Space Museum, and the National Zoo.
Trump and his supporters have often accused public institutions of embracing political agendas, particularly those that focus on race, gender identity, and historical injustices. This order is part of a broader campaign to redefine public history and national identity in line with Trump’s “America First” agenda.