In exercising the powers entrusted to me as President under the Constitution and the laws of the United States, I hereby issue the following directive:
Section 1. Purpose and Policy
Over the past decade, Americans have been confronted with a relentless campaign to reshape the narrative of our Nation’s history, substituting objective truths with a skewed account influenced more by ideology than by fact. This revisionist endeavor aims to undermine the incredible milestones achieved by the United States, portraying its foundational principles and historical moments in a disparaging manner. Under this distorted lens, our Nation’s extraordinary legacy of promoting liberty, individual rights, and the pursuit of happiness is recast as fundamentally flawed—tainted by racism, sexism, and oppression. Instead of cultivating unity and a richer comprehension of our collective past, this widespread historical reimagining exacerbates societal rifts and instills a pervasive sense of national shame, neglecting the progress we have made and the ideals that continue to inspire millions worldwide.
The previous administration championed this toxic ideology. At Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia—where our Nation proclaimed that all individuals are created equal—the former administration endorsed training from an organization advocating the dismantling of “Western foundations” and the interrogation of “institutional racism.” They even pressured park rangers to allow their racial identities to dictate how they present history to visitors, framing America as inherently racist.
Once a revered symbol of American excellence and a global cultural icon, the Smithsonian Institution has recently succumbed to a divisive, race-focused ideology. This transformation has given rise to narratives depicting American and Western values as intrinsically harmful. For instance, the Smithsonian American Art Museum currently showcases an exhibit titled “The Shape of Power: Stories of Race and American Sculpture,” which argues that “societies, including the United States, have employed race to establish and maintain systems of power, privilege, and disenfranchisement.” It further posits that “sculpture has been a potent tool in advancing scientific racism” and asserts the notion that race is not a biological fact but a societal construct, declaring “Race is a human invention.”
The National Museum of African American History and Culture has declared that traits like “hard work,” “individualism,” and “the nuclear family” are components of “White culture.” Upcoming exhibitions at the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum plan to honor male athletes competing in women’s sports. These examples merely scratch the surface.
It is the policy of my Administration to restore Federal historical sites, including parks and museums, to their original purpose—serving as solemn and inspiring monuments that remind Americans of our extraordinary heritage, our ongoing journey towards a more perfect Union, and our unmatched record in promoting liberty, prosperity, and human flourishing. Museums in our Nation’s capital should be places for learning rather than venues for ideological indoctrination or divisive narratives that distort our shared history.
To advance this policy, we aim to restore the Smithsonian Institution as a beacon of inspiration and American greatness—awakening the imagination of young minds, honoring the richness of American history and innovation, and instilling pride in the hearts of all Americans.
Sec. 2. Saving Our Smithsonian
(a) The Vice President, in consultation with the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy and the Special Assistant to the President and Senior Associate Staff Secretary, Lindsey Halligan, Esq., shall work to implement the policies of this order through their role on the Smithsonian Board of Regents concerning the Smithsonian Institution and its museums, education and research centers, and the National Zoo. This includes efforts to eliminate inappropriate ideological influences from these properties and recommending any further actions needed to fully realize such policies.
(b) The Vice President and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall collaborate with Congress to ensure that future funding for the Smithsonian Institution:
(i) prohibits expenditures on exhibits or programs that undermine shared American values, exacerbate racial divisions, or promote ideologies inconsistent with Federal law and policy; and
(ii) celebrates the accomplishments of women in the American Women’s History Museum without recognizing men as women in any capacity within the Museum.
(c) The Director of the Office of Management and Budget and the Secretary of the Interior shall undertake any additional measures within their authority to advance the policy of this order.
(d) As needed, the Vice President shall, in consultation with the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy and Special Assistant to the President and Senior Associate Staff Secretary, Lindsey Halligan, Esq., work with the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Senate Majority Leader to seek the appointment of citizen members to the Smithsonian Board of Regents dedicated to promoting the policy of this order.
Sec. 3. Restoring Independence Hall
The Secretary of the Interior shall allocate sufficient funding, as available, to enhance the infrastructure of Independence National Historical Park, with completion targeted for July 4, 2026, marking the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Sec. 4. Restoring Truth in American History
(a) The Secretary of the Interior shall:
(i) determine whether, since January 1, 2020, public monuments, memorials, statues, markers, or similar properties within the Department of the Interior’s jurisdiction have been removed or altered to propagate a distorted view of American history, improperly minimizing the significance of particular historical events or figures, or incorporating other partisan ideologies;
(ii) take action to reinstate the pre-existing monuments, memorials, statues, markers, or similar properties, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law; and
(iii) ensure that all public monuments, memorials, statues, markers, or similar properties within the Department of the Interior’s jurisdiction do not contain content that unfairly disparages past or present Americans (including figures from colonial times) and instead highlight the achievements and progress of the American people or, with respect to natural features, the beauty and grandeur of the American landscape.
Sec. 5. General Provisions
(a) Nothing in this order shall be interpreted to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) the authority granted by law to any executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget regarding budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This order shall be implemented in accordance with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any enforceable rights or benefits, substantive or procedural, for any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
DONALD J. TRUMP
THE WHITE HOUSE,
March 27, 2025.
