Overview

• Trump said on Truth Social that he instructed his lawyers to begin for museums the same review process used with universities.
• A formal White House letter to Smithsonian secretary Lonnie Bunch orders internal reviews starting with eight entities and sets 120 days to replace what it calls divisive language.
• Professional associations, including the American Alliance of Museums and the Association of Art Museum Directors, warn the directives risk a chilling effect that limits public access to evidence and perspectives.
• Reporting documents concrete impacts, including changes to the National Museum of American History’s presidential exhibit, which removed then restored references to Trump’s impeachments with altered wording.
• Republican lawmakers have introduced proposals to codify the executive order as the administration signals potential penalties similar to those used against universities, including funding pressure.