President Donald Trump signed an executive order on July 24, 2026, directing the Interior Department to place temporary warning signs outside the National Museum of American History in Washington, alerting visitors to what the order calls "ideological capture" of the museum. The signs are to be installed along sidewalks and walkways maintained by the National Park Service that the public uses to reach the building. As of July 28, it was unclear whether any signs had actually gone up, according to Town & Country.

The order, officially titled "Restoring Trust in the Smithsonian Institution," goes further than a label. It suggests the signage should point visitors toward locations where American history is "better presented" than at the Smithsonian, according to The New York Times. Reuters independently reported that the order characterizes the museum's content as containing "inaccurate information."

The order builds on a March 2025 executive order, designated Executive Order 14253, titled "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History," which set a policy of restoring federal historic sites — parks and museums included — to what the administration described as "solemn and uplifting public monuments." In August 2025, the White House sent a letter to the Smithsonian requesting that each museum submit an updated plan to commemorate America's 250th anniversary and coordinate with the White House on those plans.

Behind the July order is a White House Domestic Policy Council report published in early July 2026 that concluded the Smithsonian "cannot be trusted to tell America's story honestly." The Associated Press independently reported on the executive order directing the new signs.

The Smithsonian Institution is funded by the federal government but governed by an independent 17-member Board of Regents, a structure designed to insulate its scholarship from political pressure. Smithsonian spokeswoman Julissa Marenco responded to the White House report by stating that the Smithsonian has served the American public with nonpartisan and independent scholarship for more than 180 years.

Dr. Anthea Hartig, who has served as director of the National Museum of American History since 2019, testified before a House Oversight and Government Reform subcommittee on July 21, 2026, in connection with the Domestic Policy Council report.

The dispute lands in the middle of a milestone year. The National Museum of American History is hosting special programs throughout 2026 to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The Smithsonian launched a system-wide initiative called "Our Shared Future: 250" to mark the occasion. The history museum opened a major exhibition, "In Pursuit of Life, Liberty…," tied to the anniversary. Among its permanent attractions is "The First Ladies" display, featuring more than two dozen gowns — including those of Melania Trump, Michelle Obama, Barbara Bush, Nancy Reagan, and Jacqueline Kennedy.

The White House published a fact sheet summarizing the order on July 24, the same day it was signed.