In exercise of the authority conferred upon me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby decree:
Section 1. Purpose and Policy. Over the last ten years, Americans have observed a systematic and broad initiative to alter our Nation’s history, substituting objective truths with a biased narrative driven by ideology instead of factual accuracy. This revisionist endeavor aims to diminish the extraordinary accomplishments of the United States by portraying its foundational principles and key historical events in a negative framework. Within this distorted narrative, our Nation’s unmatched legacy of promoting liberty, individual rights, and human well-being is reframed as fundamentally racist, sexist, oppressive, or otherwise irreparably defective. This widespread effort to rewrite history does not foster unity or a deeper comprehension of our common past; rather, it exacerbates societal divisions and cultivates national shame, neglecting the progress America has achieved and the ideals that continue to inspire millions worldwide.
The previous administration supported this detrimental ideology. At Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania—where our Nation proclaimed that all men are created equal—the former administration endorsed training from an organization that advocates dismantling “Western foundations” and “interrogating institutional racism.” They also pressured National Historical Park rangers to allow their racial identity to influence how they present history to visitors, based on the assertion that America is fundamentally racist.
Once highly respected as a beacon of American excellence and a global symbol of cultural achievement, the Smithsonian Institution has recently fallen under the sway of a divisive, race-focused ideology. This transformation has propagated narratives that frame American and Western values as intrinsically harmful and oppressive. For example, the Smithsonian American Art Museum currently showcases “The Shape of Power: Stories of Race and American Sculpture,” an exhibit claiming that “[s]ocieties, including the United States, have employed race to create and sustain systems of power, privilege, and disenfranchisement.” The exhibit further asserts that “sculpture has been a potent tool in promoting scientific racism,” and promotes the idea that race is a social construct rather than a biological reality, stating, “Race is a human invention.”
The National Museum of African American History and Culture has stated that “hard work,” “individualism,” and “the nuclear family” are elements of “White culture.” The upcoming Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum intends to highlight the achievements of male athletes in women’s sports. These are merely a few instances.
The policy of my Administration is to restore Federal sites dedicated to historical significance, including parks and museums, into dignified and positive public monuments that reflect our extraordinary heritage, ongoing journey toward a more perfect Union, and unparalleled commitment to advancing liberty, prosperity, and human well-being. Museums in our Nation’s capital should serve as educational spaces—free from ideological indoctrination and divisive narratives that misrepresent our collective history.
To advance this policy, we will restore the Smithsonian Institution to its rightful place as a source of inspiration and American greatness—spurring the imagination of young minds, celebrating 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 coordination 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 his position on the Smithsonian Board of Regents concerning the Smithsonian Institution and its museums, education and research centers, and the National Zoo. This includes working to eliminate improper ideologies from these properties and recommending any additional actions to the President necessary to fully realize these 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 spending on exhibits or programs that undermine shared American values, create racial divisions among Americans, or promote programs or ideologies inconsistent with Federal law and policy; and
(ii) honors the achievements of women at the American Women’s History Museum and does not recognize 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 take any additional actions within their authority to further the policy outlined in this order.
(d) When appropriate, the Vice President, 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., shall engage with the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Senate Majority Leader to advocate for citizen members on the Smithsonian Board of Regents committed 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 by 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) assess whether, since January 1, 2020, public monuments, memorials, statues, markers, or similar properties under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Interior have been removed or altered to promote a false depiction of American history, diminish the significance of certain historical events or figures, or include any other improper partisan ideology;
(ii) take necessary actions to reinstate pre-existing monuments, memorials, statues, markers, or similar properties, as appropriate and consistent with 43 U.S.C. 1451 et seq., 54 U.S.C. 100101 et seq., and other relevant law; and
(iii) take appropriate actions, consistent with applicable law, to ensure that all public monuments, memorials, statues, markers, or similar properties within the Department of the Interior’s jurisdiction do not feature descriptions, depictions, or other content that unfairly disparage Americans from the past or present (including those who lived during colonial times), and instead emphasize the significant achievements and progress of the American people or, in the case of natural features, the beauty, richness, and majesty of the American landscape.
Sec. 5. General Provisions. (a) This order shall not be interpreted 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 with respect to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This order shall be executed in accordance with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c) This order does not create any right or benefit, either 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.
DONALD J. TRUMP
THE WHITE HOUSE,
March 27, 2025.
