The White House has released a critical 162-page report accusing the Smithsonian Institution of promoting "extreme political activism" and presenting "a radical view of American history." The report, published on Saturday, July 4, specifically targets the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History (NMAH), asserting its leadership has adopted "an ideological framework that no longer treats the American story as a shared national inheritance to be taught or celebrated, but as a political instrument to divide, dispirit, and discourage our citizens."
The report details accusations of "anti-White activism," "illegal alien activism," and "transgender activism" within the museum's exhibits. It includes photographic evidence of materials the White House has identified as problematic, contending that the museum casts America as "a problematic country irredeemably conceived, founded by deeply flawed men, and still operating today as an instrument of systemic racism and oppression."
One exhibit highlighted in the report is "Many Voices, One Nation," which the White House claims attempts "to instill within visitors its belief that migration and immigration, including the granting of citizenship to illegal aliens, is a defining modern-day civil rights and human liberty issue." The report also takes issue with displays on transgender individuals, citing an exhibit titled "Girlhood" that featured transgender media personality Jazz Jennings. The report states, "One of the clearest examples of NMAH's radical ideology is its refusal to correctly identify or define what a woman is."
This review was initiated in response to President Donald Trump's March 27, 2025, executive order, "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History." The order directed Vice President J.D. Vance to consult with domestic policy advisors to "remove improper ideology" from Smithsonian institutions, asserting that materials portraying America in a "negative light" are inappropriate for federal cultural institutions.
The report suggests that the public has a right to expect federal funding of the Smithsonian, which is over $1 billion annually and approximately 62% federal, to support its role as a "faithful steward of the Nation's historic and cultural heritage, not as a vehicle for ideological campaigns."
Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch, who has led the institution since 2019, has maintained the Smithsonian's commitment to "impartial learning" and "nonpartisan and independent scholarship." In a September 3, 2025, letter to employees, Bunch underscored the institution's independence, stating it was "paramount," and reaffirmed its commitment to telling the "American story" in a place that "welcomes all Americans and the world."
The American Historical Association, representing 10,000 historians, has publicly defended the Smithsonian, urging the White House to "respect and value the expertise of the historians, curators, and other museum professionals" involved in developing historical content according to professional standards.