Asiye Latife Yilmaz
28 March 2025•Update: 28 March 2025
ISTANBUL
US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday aimed at reforming the Smithsonian Institution by removing what he considers "improper ideology" from its museums, research centers, and the National Zoo.
Trump appointed Vice President JD Vance to eliminate "improper, divisive, or anti-American" ideology from the federally funded Smithsonian Institution.
“Once widely respected as a symbol of American excellence and a global icon of cultural achievement, the Smithsonian Institution has, in recent years, come under the influence of a divisive, race-centered ideology," the executive order said.
"This shift has promoted narratives that portray American and Western values as inherently harmful and oppressive,” the order added.
Trump’s order specifically targets the National Museum of African American History and Culture and the Women’s History Museum, which is still in development.
“Museums in our Nation’s capital should be places where individuals go to learn – not to be subjected to ideological indoctrination or divisive narratives that distort our shared history,” the order said.
Vance, a member of the Smithsonian Board of Regents, will also work with congressional leaders to select board members who are dedicated to “advancing the celebration of America’s heritage and progress.”
Trump’s order also directed Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to restore federal parks and monuments that have been "improperly removed or changed" in the past five years to prevent a false revision of history.
The move aligns with the Trump administration’s broader anti-DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) policies, which aim to eliminate race-conscious practices in government agencies and contractors.
