DateIssued:March27,2025
Topic:CivilRights,LGBTQIssues
ThisexecutiveorderdirectsmembersofthePresidentialCabinettowork withCongresstodefundSmithsonianMuseumbudgets,exhibits,and programsthat“divideAmericansbasedonrace”oracknowledge transgenderidentity.
TheorderspecificallycitestheNationalMuseumofAfricanAmerican HistoryandCulture(NMAAHC),theSmithsonianAmericanArtMuseum, andtheSmithsonianAmericanWomen’sHistoryMuseum(SAWHM), whichdoesnotcurrentlyhaveaphysicalstructure,asperpetuating “divisive,race-centeredideology”and“narrativesthatportrayAmerican andWesternvaluesasinherentlyharmfulandoppressive.”
TheorderalsodirectstheSecretaryoftheInteriortoreinstateand restorethenamesofmonumentsonfederalpropertythathavebeen takendownsince2020andtoensurethatalldescriptionsand depictionsofpublicmonumentsdonot“inappropriatelydisparage Americanspastorliving.”
HOWWILLTHISEXECUTIVEORDERBEENFORCED?
ThisexecutiveorderwillbeenforcedbytheVicePresident,actinginhis capacityasamemberoftheSmithsonianBoardofRegents,theSecretary oftheInterior,andtheOfficeofManagementandBudget(OMB)Director.
TheorderdirectstheVicePresidentandtheOMBDirectortoworkwith Congresstoremove“improperideology”fromallSmithsonianInstitution properties,includingthemuseums,researchcenters,andtheNational Zoo.
TheorderinstructstheSecretaryoftheInteriortoidentifyandreinstate anypropertieswithinitsdepartment’sjurisdictionthathavebeen removedorhadtheirnameschangedsince2020dueto“improper partisanideology.”
TheorderalsotaskstheSecretaryoftheInteriorwithimprovingthe infrastructureofIndependenceNationalHistoricalParkbythe250th anniversaryofthesigningoftheDeclarationofIndependenceonJuly4, 2026.
HOWDOESTHISIMPACTBLACKCOMMUNITIES?
TheNMAAHCistheworld’slargestmuseumdedicatedtoAfricanAmerican historyandculture.Thecreationofthemuseumwasover100yearsinthe making,withpreliminaryconversationscommencingin1915tohonorBlackCivil Warveterans,tomoreconcertedlegislativeadvocacyinthe1980sbylateCBC membersMickeyLelandandJohnLewis,tothemuseum’sgrandopeningin 2016.Themuseumcollectionincludesover40,000artifactsandcoversaspanof over400yearsofBlackhistory,fromthetransatlanticslavetradetothe presidencyofBarackObama.
WhiletheNMAAHCispartiallyfundedthroughprivatedonations,themuseum receivedabout$250millionofitsinitialfundingfromCongress.Themuseum stillusespublicfundsforpersonnelandupkeep,fundingthatthisexecutive orderputsinjeopardy,whichcouldsignalcatastropheforthelongevityofthe museumandthepreservationofBlackhistory.
TheNMAAHCaveragesover1millionpatronsperyearandprovideseducational opportunitiesforpeopleofalldemographics.Inthewakeofthedismantlingof diversity,equity,andinclusionprogramsandtheremovalofBlackhistoryfrom schoolcurriculums,thisexecutiveorderwillhaveachillingeffectonall Americansandtheirunderstandingofthiscountry’shistory.
Thisorderalsoencouragesthevenerationofhistoricalfigureswhocommitted racistacts.AftertheBlackLivesMattermovementin2020,leadersacrossthe countrytookdownover100Confederatemonumentsandstatues,includinga statueofRobertE.LeethatwasfeaturedintheU.S.Capitol.PresidentTrump callsthis“revisionisthistory”andhasdemandedthattheSecretaryofthe Interiorreinstateallstatuesthathavebeenremovedfromfederalpropertyover thelastfiveyears.Confederatemonumentsdonotjustupliftpublicfiguresthat wagedwaragainsttheUnitedStatesandattemptedtosecedefromthe country;theyalsoserveassymbolicremindersofanti-Blackdiscrimination.
TheSAWHMdoesnothaveaphysicalstructureyetbuthasloanedartifactsto othermuseumsthathighlighttheachievementsofseveralprominentBlack women,fromIdaB.WellstoMaryMcCleodBethune.Inthisorder,President Trumpstatesthatthemuseumconducted“ideologicalindoctrination”dueto anexhibitthatfeaturedatransgenderathleteandthreatenedtowithhold federalfunds.TheSAWHMisstillindevelopment,havingreceived$10millionof Congressionallyappropriatedfundsinfiscalyear2024.Thisordercould significantlyhaltitstimeline,whichwilllimitthemuseum'sabilitytohighlightthe contributionsofBlackwomeninshapingtheUnitedStates.
HOWARECBCMEMBERSRESPONDING?
TheCongressionalBlackCaucus(CBC)hasworkedtopreserveBlack historyandupliftthestoriesofAfricanAmericanssinceitsinception.The CBC,ledbyChairYvetteD.Clarke,issuedthefollowingstatementin responsetothisexecutiveorder:
“PresidentTrumpsignedanexecutiveorderthataimstorestrict fundingforprogramswithintheSmithsonianInstitutionthatthe administrationisfalselyaccusingofpromoting‘divisivenarratives’ and‘improperideology.’Thereisnothingdivisiveorimproperabout tellingthetruth.Wedetestthisadministration’sdedicationto whitewashingournation’shistory.DonaldTrump’sideathatthe NationalMuseumofAfricanAmericanHistoryandCultureisguiltyof distortingournation’shistoryorpaintingour‘foundingprinciples’ina ‘negativelight’ispatentlyridiculous.[...]Let’sbeclear,Blackhistoryis Americanhistory.Anyrhetoricthatopposesthisnotionisnotonly factuallyincorrectbutblatantlyracist.Wewillnotstandforanything asidefromthetruth.”FullStatement
