In a controversial move, President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday directing a reversal of actions taken to dismantle U.S. monuments during President Joe Biden’s administration. The order mandates the restoration of these historical markers and emphasizes a rejection of "anti-American ideology" in national museums and public sites.
The Daily Caller reported that the executive order criticizes the removal of monuments after January 1, 2020, specifically targeting decisions made during Joe Biden's term in office.
It calls for federal agencies to restore dismantled monuments, with a particular focus on historical markers and statues. The order also prohibits taxpayer funding for exhibitions that contradict shared American values or are based on race-focused narratives that do not align with federal law.
President Trump assigned the interior secretary to oversee the reinstatement of significant historical markers.
Vice President JD Vance will lead efforts to evaluate and reverse diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives at the Smithsonian Institution.
The directive from President Trump consolidates his administration’s criticism of the Smithsonian Institutions' practices. There is a call to avoid exhibitions that Trump perceives as divisive at these esteemed museums.
The executive order argues that these cultural institutions should educate individuals impartially without promoting controversial interpretations of history.
Among the monuments listed for potential restoration is the Confederate Reconciliation Monument at Arlington National Cemetery. It was dismantled in 2023 following strong recommendations by the Naming Commission due to its links to nationwide protests and vandalism in the wake of George Floyd's death in 2020.
The order applies to any federally controlled property, including significant locations like Civil War battlefields, presidential sites, and areas managed by the National Park Service. This sweeping directive seeks to preserve what the Trump administration views as "shared American values."
The executive order also targets museum exhibitions that degrade American values or promote contentious race-based narratives.
As part of uniformly applying these changes, top aides Vince Haley and Lindsey Halligan are tasked with synchronizing congressional appropriations to comply with the new mandates.
Trump's order specifically mentions critique of the National Museum of African American History and Culture. The criticism centers on its approach to discussing topics such as individualism and the nuclear family, which the administration controversially claimed were being aligned with "white culture."
The administration also expressed concerns with the planned American Women’s History Museum, closely scrutinizing how its content could impact public understanding of gender roles and identities. The order criticizes its objective to potentially recognize men as women, a viewpoint regarded as contentious by its critics.
Another significant component of the order is the advocacy for citizen appointments to the Smithsonian's Board of Regents. This move aims to democratize museum oversight and ensure public interest and opinions are adequately represented.
These concerted efforts, according to Trump’s executive order, stem from a broader contention that the nation’s history has been "reconstructed" over the past decade to portray it as inherently flawed.
Trump's administration seeks to counter this by restoring Federal sites as "solemn and uplifting" reminders of the nation's heritage and progress as a Union.
The White House did not respond to queries about the order at the time of publication, nor did it address any potential legal or political challenges that might arise from the reinstatement of these monuments.
Public and political reactions to the executive order are anticipated to be mixed, given the complex and emotionally charged nature of the issues at hand. Institutions tasked with implementing the order will need to navigate both logistical challenges and public perception concerns as they proceed.
