The Trump administration announced plans to install approximately one dozen signs at Smithsonian Institution museum sites in Washington, D.C., to advise visitors of what officials characterize as ideological bias within the institution. In a letter to members of a Senate Appropriations subcommittee, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum stated the move is necessary to address the use of museums to advance "personal, radical ideologies." The signs are expected to be placed on National Park Service land surrounding the museums.
The proposal follows a July executive order titled "Restoring Trust in the Smithsonian Institution." The administration has expressed specific grievances regarding the National Museum of American History (NMAH) and Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III. Secretary Burgum's letter alleged that museum exhibits present viewpoints "inconsistent with biology" regarding sex and that the institution's leadership has sought to "legitimize illegal immigration."
The Interior Department estimated the cost of the signs at $7,000 each, totaling approximately $84,000. While the Smithsonian declined to comment on the letter, Secretary Bunch previously defended the institution’s work in a July memo to staff, stating that Smithsonian scholarship is driven by accuracy and a commitment to telling "the fullness of America's story." Bunch announced on September 8 that he will retire at the end of the year, though he stated the timing is unrelated to administration pressure.
Critics, including Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), have characterized the plan as a campaign to undermine the integrity of the institution. Congressional Republicans and the administration have also proposed other changes to D.C. landmarks, such as renaming the Kennedy Center after President Trump. The final text for the signs has not yet been determined, and a specific installation date was not reported, though the initiative follows the September 3 letter detailing the administration's requirements.
What happens next depends on the finalization of the sign text and the transition of leadership at the Smithsonian. Secretary Lonnie Bunch is scheduled to retire at the end of December 2026. While the administration describes the signs as "temporary," no expiration date has been provided. Meanwhile, members of the Senate Appropriations subcommittee, including Senator Merkley, have signaled they will oppose efforts to limit the institution's independence as they oversee the Smithsonian's federal funding.