Trump Administration Moves to Expose Ideological Bias at Smithsonian Museums
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The Interior Department, following President Trump’s directive, plans to install warning signs at Smithsonian museums to alert visitors to the institutions’ increasing promotion of left-wing political agendas, a necessary step despite opposition from entrenched elites and museum officials.
The Interior Department has announced plans to place up to twelve temporary signs at Smithsonian museums in Washington, D.C., warning visitors that these once-respected institutions have shifted from presenting objective historical facts to advancing political viewpoints. In letters to Senate Appropriations Committee leaders Sen. Lisa Murkowski and Sen. Jeff Merkley, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum explained that the signs are essential for 'public transparency' and 'academic honesty,' in accordance with President Trump’s executive order to restore trust in the Smithsonian and ensure that Americans are not misled by partisan narratives.
Burgum's September 3 letter highlighted several troubling issues, including statements by Anthea Hartig, director of the National Museum of American History, who openly described history as a tool for social justice—revealing a clear intent to politicize the nation’s story. The letter also called out the museum’s efforts to legitimize illegal immigration and promote open borders, as well as the presentation of unscientific ideas, such as denying the biological reality that sex is binary. Furthermore, the letter warned about Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch’s alleged discriminatory conduct, raising concerns about the institution’s leadership.
The Smithsonian refused to comment on the letter. In a July response to staff, Bunch claimed that the museum’s work is guided by scholarship and accuracy, but critics argue that this is belied by the institution’s increasing leftist bias. Bunch announced his retirement at the end of the year, insisting it was unrelated to the administration’s efforts to hold the Smithsonian accountable.
The proposed signs, estimated at $7,000 each for a total of about $84,000, are a small price to pay for transparency. Sen. Merkley, a vocal opponent of the initiative, called it a 'pressure campaign,' but the administration remains committed to protecting the Smithsonian’s integrity. This effort is part of a broader push to reclaim America’s cultural institutions from ideological capture, including proposals to rename the Kennedy Center and construct a new triumphal arch in the capital.