In a sweeping executive order, President Donald Trump has turned his attention to one of the nation’s most iconic cultural institutions — the Smithsonian.

The order issued in March and titled “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,” outlines a plan to reshape how federally funded museums — and the Smithsonian in particular — approach race, identity and American values.

A new era of oversight

The executive order threatens to pull federal funding from exhibits and programs the Trump administration believes “degrade shared American values” or “divide Americans based on race.” With the Smithsonian Institution overseeing more than 20 museums and 200 affiliate organizations nationwide, the potential impact is vast and far-reaching.

While the order doesn’t directly censor specific exhibits, it establishes a federal review process led by Vice President JD Vance, who will oversee content related to race and gender identity. Exhibits found to be out of alignment with the order’s goals could risk defunding or restructuring.

Smithsonian: ‘We will continue telling America’s complex story’

Despite mounting political pressure, Smithsonian leaders have pushed back. According to a statement reported by the Museums Association, Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch reassured staff the institution would continue to tell the “multi-faceted stories” of American history without political interference.

Bunch, who became the first African American leader of the Smithsonian in 2019, emphasized the institution’s educational mission. He said the Smithsonian would work with its Board of Regents to preserve its academic integrity and continue fostering critical conversations.

“We are committed to education, complexity, and truth,” Bunch wrote. “That will not change.”

Not without precedent

Although Trump’s directive has sparked controversy, presidential involvement in the Smithsonian is nothing new. Past presidents have frequently shaped the institution’s direction:

Theodore Roosevelt championed the expansion of the Natural History collections and promoted conservation.

Lyndon B. Johnson oversaw the creation of the National Museum of History and Technology in the 1960s.

George W. Bush signed the law authorizing the creation of the National Museum of African American History and Culture in 2003.

Exhibits in the crosshairs

Among those targeted:

“The Shape of Power” at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, which explores how sculpture has historically reinforced racial hierarchies and interrogates race as a social construct.

The “Talking About Race” web portal, hosted by the National Museum of African American History and Culture, which has drawn criticism for previously describing traits like individualism, hard work, and the nuclear family as part of “White culture.”

A planned exhibit at the upcoming Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum, which the administration claims will celebrate “male athletes participating in women’s sports”—though no such exhibit has been confirmed.

The White House called these examples proof of a “distorted and divisive” narrative that must be corrected.

“We are restoring the Smithsonian to a symbol of inspiration and American greatness,” Trump said in a statement.

What’s next?

For now, the Smithsonian appears intent on staying the course. But with federal oversight looming and funding on the line, the nation’s most prominent network of museums could face difficult choices in the months ahead.