Presidential Actions Executive Orders Search Select Category All News Briefings & Statements All Presidential Actions Executive Orders Nominations & Appointments Presidential Memoranda Proclamations Fact Sheets Releases Remarks Research All Briefings & Statements Presidential Actions All Executive Orders Nominations & Appointments Presidential Memoranda Proclamations Fact Sheets Releases Remarks Research By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered: Section 1 . Policy . On March 27, 2025, I issued Executive Order 14253 (Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History). Pursuant to that order, the Domestic Policy Council recently completed a months-long review of the Smithsonian Institution and its National Museum of American History (Museum) and issued its findings in the report entitled Saving America’s Story: How Ideological Capture at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History Erases Our Heritage (Report). The Report demonstrates that the Smithsonian leadership does not present American history as a shared national inheritance to be taught and celebrated, but instead views American history as a “prime tool” to advance ideas of social justice and the radical transformation of our society. The Report also overwhelmingly demonstrates that current leadership of both the Smithsonian Institution and the Museum cannot be trusted to tell America’s story with honesty and gratitude. It is therefore the policy of my Administration to take all available steps to ensure that the issues identified in the Report are addressed and to restore trust in the Smithsonian Institution. Sec . 2 . Restoring Trust in the Smithsonian Institution . The Secretary of the Interior, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, the Administrator of General Services, and the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy shall identify and utilize any and all available authorities to promote the policy of this order and to restore trust in the Smithsonian Institution, including any mechanisms available to encourage correction of the issues identified in the Report and compliance with any applicable statutes, regulations, executive actions, and funding or contract conditions. Sec . 3 . Warning Visitors About the Ideological Capture at the National Museum of American History . (a) The Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the National Park Service (NPS) and in coordination with the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy, shall install temporary signage along the NPS-maintained sidewalks and walkways used by the public to access the Museum, informing visitors of the findings of the Report and of the policy set forth in section 1 of this order. Such signage shall notify visitors that the Museum exhibits should be renovated consistent with the findings in the Report and direct visitors to locations and resources for accurate information regarding America’s history. (b) Because the Museum has failed to appropriately honor the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence during this 250th anniversary year of the founding of our country, the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the NPS and in coordination with the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy, shall install temporary exhibits or signage on NPS-maintained sidewalks, walkways, and land used by the public that corrects inaccurate information presented in the Museum. Sec . 4 . General Provisions . (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect: (i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or (ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals. (b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations. (c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person. (d) The costs for publication of this order shall be borne by the Department of the Interior. DONALD J. TRUMP THE WHITE HOUSE, July 24, 2026. eo-14416 Download The post Restoring Trust in the Smithsonian Institution appeared first on The White House .
Restoring Trust in the Smithsonian Institution
Brief
The Executive Order Restoring Trust in the Smithsonian Institution (EO‑14416), signed July 24, 2026 by President Donald J. Trump, directs federal officials to act on a Domestic Policy Council months‑long review and its report, Saving America’s Story, produced under EO‑14253 (March 27, 2025). The Report charges that Smithsonian leadership treats American history as a “prime tool” for social‑justice advocacy and concludes current leadership cannot be trusted to present a shared national inheritance. EO‑14416 tasks the Secretary of the Interior, OMB Director, GSA Administrator, and the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy to use “any and all available authorities,” including funding and contract levers, and directs the NPS Director to install temporary signage/exhibits on NPS‑maintained sidewalks and lands to notify visitors of the findings and correct alleged inaccuracies (including honoring the 56 Declaration signers during the 250th anniversary). The order includes standard legal caveats: implementation consistent with law, subject to appropriations, publication costs borne by DOI, and it creates no private rights.
Why it matters
President Donald J. Trump signed Executive Order EO‑14416 on July 24, 2026, ordering actions to “restore trust” in the Smithsonian Institution based on a Domestic Policy Council months‑long review and the report Saving America’s Story: How Ideological Capture at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History Erases Our Heritage.
Key details
- The Report, produced pursuant to Executive Order 14253 (March 27, 2025), asserts Smithsonian leadership views American history as a “prime tool” to advance social justice and concludes current Smithsonian and National Museum of American History leadership “cannot be trusted” to tell America’s story.
- EO‑14416 directs the Secretary of the Interior, the Director of OMB, the Administrator of GSA, and the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy to “identify and utilize any and all available authorities,” including funding and contract conditions, to correct the Report’s identified issues.
- The order requires the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the NPS Director, to install temporary signage and exhibits on NPS‑maintained sidewalks, walkways, and land to inform visitors of the Report’s findings and to correct inaccuracies — specifically to honor the 56 signers of the Declaration during the nation’s 250th anniversary year — and states implementation is subject to applicable law and availability of appropriations (publication costs borne by DOI).