March 27, 2025 Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History - Executive Order
- Fact Seeker
- Jul 6
- 2 min read
Purpose and Policy Overview
This executive order seeks to reverse what it describes as a decade-long trend of historical revisionism in federal museums and parks, particularly focusing on the Smithsonian Institution and Independence National Historical Park.
According to the order:
Recent historical presentations have allegedly distorted American history by framing foundational principles and institutions as inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive.
Examples cited include Smithsonian exhibits suggesting that "hard work" and "the nuclear family" are aspects of “white culture,” and the portrayal of race as a social construct.
The order criticizes the inclusion of transgender athletes in women’s exhibits, and states that such narratives promote division and shame, rather than unity and pride.
The administration's stated policy is to restore historical sites and museums to reflect a “truthful, solemn, and uplifting” vision of American heritage, emphasizing progress, liberty, and national achievement.
Key Provisions
Section 2: “Saving Our Smithsonian”
Vice President’s Role: The Vice President, with top White House aides, is directed to:
Leverage his role on the Smithsonian Board of Regents to push for removal of “improper ideology.”
Recommend further actions to align Smithsonian content with this order’s policies.
Budget Oversight: The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Vice President are directed to:
Restrict future federal funding for Smithsonian exhibits or programs that:
Promote racial division.
Denigrate shared American values.
Recognize men as women in the American Women’s History Museum.
Board Appointments:
The White House will coordinate with Congressional leaders to appoint citizen board members who support the executive order’s aims.
Section 3: “Restoring Independence Hall”
Directs the Secretary of the Interior to fund and complete infrastructure upgrades to Independence National Historical Park by July 4, 2026, in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
Section 4: “Restoring Truth in American History”
Monument Review:
The Department of the Interior must review all monuments, memorials, and markers under its jurisdiction removed or altered since January 1, 2020.
Specifically, the department must determine if changes were made to:
Promote “false reconstructions” of history.
Minimize historical figures or events.
Introduce “improper partisan ideology.”
Restoration Orders:
Where applicable, previously existing monuments or markers must be reinstated.
New or existing monuments must avoid disparaging historical Americans and instead focus on:
Positive achievements.
American progress.
Natural beauty of the U.S. landscape.
Legal and Administrative Clauses
The order:
Does not create any enforceable legal rights.
Must be implemented in accordance with existing laws and budget appropriations.
Does not override statutory authority of federal agencies.
Implications and Context
The order is part of a broader effort to reshape federal cultural and educational messaging, especially in Smithsonian museums and public monuments.
It seeks to reframe national history through a lens of unity and patriotism, rejecting themes viewed as divisive or ideologically motivated.
Specific attention is given to gender and race-related content, and it affirms that biological sex distinctions must be observed in federally funded exhibits.
Writer's Note: Summary made with the use of AI tools for editing and quick processing, facts checked against the order before publishing.
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