Two U.S. senators have formally requested detailed explanations from the Trump administration regarding a proposal to install temporary warning signs outside the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) sent a letter to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum this week, raising concerns about the directive issued under a recent executive order from President Donald Trump.
The senators, who serve on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, asked whether the National Park Service (NPS) has ever been used in a similar capacity and requested a breakdown of how taxpayer funds would finance the initiative. The letter was sent days after the White House released a report alleging that the museum’s exhibits lean heavily toward social justice themes and fail to adequately emphasize national achievements.
The executive order, titled Restoring Trust in the Smithsonian Institution, follows a White House review that questioned whether the museum has drifted from its founding mission. The administration contends that Smithsonian leadership has used the museum to advance ideological agendas. Under the proposed directive, temporary signage would be placed on NPS-managed sidewalks and walkways near the museum to alert visitors to alleged inaccuracies and direct them to alternative informational sources.
In their letter, Murkowski and Merkley emphasized that the Smithsonian Institution has, for the past 180 years, been committed to sharing objective historical evidence through research and education, not political narratives. They also sought clarification on whether the NPS has ever been used to post similar advisories in the past.
The White House has not yet publicly responded to the senators’ inquiries. A spokesperson for the Department of the Interior declined to comment when reached by Newsweek. Murkowski and Merkley’s offices did not immediately respond to requests for further comment.
The conflict reflects a broader debate over the curation of American history at federally funded institutions. Supporters of the executive order argue that the Smithsonian’s exhibits have increasingly emphasized social justice themes while downplaying national achievements, particularly in exhibits related to the nation’s founding era. Critics, including some museum trustees and historians, contend that the warning signs represent an attempt to politicize historical interpretation and undermine the museum’s educational mission.
The Smithsonian Institution has not issued a public response to the executive order or the senators’ letter. The museum’s leadership has historically defended its exhibits as reflective of diverse perspectives on American history, including challenging chapters such as slavery, Indigenous displacement, and systemic inequality.
The executive order was released on July 4, coinciding with the nation’s 250th anniversary, and has sparked discussions about the role of federal institutions in shaping historical narratives. The proposal to install warning signs has drawn comparisons to ongoing debates over academic freedom, content advisories, and the boundaries of historical interpretation in public spaces.