President Donald Trump has issued an executive order directing the Interior Department to install signage outside the National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. The order, signed on July 24, mandates that visitors be warned that the historical accounts presented within the Smithsonian Institution museum are inaccurate according to his administration.
This directive follows the release of a 162-page report by the White House Domestic Policy Council on July 4. The report characterized the museum as an instrument for a radical, activist cohort intended to reframe the American story for ideological purposes. Furthermore, the executive order claims the museum has failed to appropriately honor the individuals who signed the Declaration of Independence in observance of the nation’s 250th anniversary. Federal officials have been instructed to place temporary exhibits or signs along walkways and sidewalks maintained by the National Park Service to address these perceived inaccuracies.
The move comes amid heightened scrutiny from Republican lawmakers. During a congressional hearing on July 21, Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tennessee, the chairman of the House Oversight Committee, criticized the museum’s leadership, specifically targeting director Dr. Anthea Hartig. Burchett alleged that the institution had become infected by a woke ideology, echoing findings from the White House report.
Dr. Hartig, who has served as the director since 2019, has defended the museum's mission, stating that the White House report failed to characterize the institution's work fairly or accurately. She noted that the museum is working to include more diverse voices and evidence so that a wider range of Americans can see themselves reflected in the national narrative. According to Hartig, this effort includes focusing on the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and other national symbols. She emphasized that telling the full truth about times when the country fell short of its founding ideals is a form of respect and a commitment to pursuing a more perfect union.
As of July 25, it remained unclear if the mandated warning signs had been placed outside the museum. Neither the White House, the Smithsonian, the National Park Service, nor the Interior Department provided immediate responses to requests for comment regarding the implementation of the order. The museum remains open to the public daily, excluding Christmas Day, and offers free admission.
