The White House plans to conduct a wide-ranging review of the Smithsonian Institution’s museum exhibitions, materials and operations ahead of America’s 250th anniversary next year to ensure the museums align with President Donald Trump’s view of American history, a White House official confirmed to ABC News.
In a letter sent to Lonnie Bunch, the secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, the White House writes that it wants to ensure that the museums “reflect the unity, progress, and enduring values that define the American story.”
The White House writes that in accordance with a March executive order, “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,” officials will be leading a “comprehensive internal review of selected Smithsonian museums and exhibitions. This initiative aims to ensure alignment with the President’s directive to celebrate American exceptionalism, remove divisive or partisan narratives, and restore confidence in our shared cultural institutions.”
The Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History is seen from the Washington Monument, June 19, 2025, in Washington, D.C.
Kevin Carter/Getty Images
The review will focus on several key areas, including examining public-facing content, such as exhibition texts, websites and social media “to assess tone, historical framing, and alignment with American ideals.”
In addition, the review will examine the curatorial process, current and future exhibitions, how existing materials and collections are used and the development of “consistent curatorial guidelines that reflect the Smithsonian’s original mission.”
For now, the review will focus on eight Smithsonian museums:
- The National Museum of American History
- The National Museum of Natural History
- The National Museum of African American History and Culture
- The National Museum of the American Indian
- The National Air and Space Museum
- The Smithsonian American Art Museum
- The National Portrait Gallery
- The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
In a statement, the Smithsonian Institution said: “The Smithsonian’s work is grounded in a deep commitment to scholarly excellence, rigorous research, and the accurate, factual presentation of history. We are reviewing the letter with this commitment in mind and will continue to collaborate constructively with the White House, Congress, and our governing Board of Regents.”
ABC News’ Deena Zaru contributed to this report.
