The Smithsonian will conduct a content review across its 21 museums and zoo to comply with a recent order issued by US President Donald Trump, according to a report.
The review follows an executive order signed by Trump in March that targeted the Smithsonian and directed the removal of “improper, divisive, or anti-American ideology” from its museums.
The Wall Street Journal reports that the Smithsonian’s Board of Regents is respecting Trump’s order, a decision made during a closed-door meeting on Monday (9 June).
A Smithsonian spokesperson told the Journal: “The board directed the secretary to assess content in museums and make needed changes to ensure unbiased content, including personnel changes.
“The board requested that the secretary report back on progress and suggested next steps.”
Titled ‘Restoring Truth and Sanity to American history’, the executive order stated that Congress should not fund Smithsonian exhibits and programmes that “divide Americans by race”.
Museums told to remove “anti-American ideology”
It came after the Smithsonian closed its diversity office to comply with another executive order issued by Trump that declared diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives to be “illegal and immoral discrimination programs”.
Earlier this month, Trump said he was firing Kim Sajet, the first female director of the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery, for her support of DEI initiatives.
The Smithsonian responded in a statement this week that said it retained power over personnel decisions.
A source told the Wall Street Journal that no decisions have been made about Sajet’s employment.
The Smithsonian Institution’s network of museums welcomes between 15 to 30 million visitors annually, free of charge.
The group manages 21 locations across Washington, Virginia, and New York, including the National Museum of American History, the National Portrait Gallery, the American Art Museum, and the National Zoo.
Images courtesy of the Smithsonian Institution
