The secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, Lonnie Bunch, has affirmed the organisation’s commitment to scholarship and research following an executive order from president Trump directing the removal of “improper, divisive or anti-American ideology” from Smithsonian sites.

Published on 27 March, the Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History executive order said the Smithsonian, which runs 21 museums and the National Zoo, had “come under the influence of a divisive, race-centred ideology” that “promoted narratives that portray American and Western values as inherently harmful and oppressive”.

The order outlined plans to “restore the Smithsonian Institution to its rightful place as a symbol of inspiration and American greatness”, including the appointment of vice president JD Vance to the Smithsonian Board of Regents, where he will work to “remove improper ideology” from the institution.

According to the executive order, Vance will review content particularly in relation to race and gender identity in Smithsonian museums.

The order said the vice president would ensure that future appropriations of the Smithsonian “prohibit expenditure on exhibits or programmes that degrade shared American values, divide Americans based on race, or promote programmes or ideologies inconsistent with federal law and policy; and celebrate the achievements of women in the American Women’s History Museum and do not recognise men as women in any respect in the museum”.

Vance has also been given authority “to seek the appointment of citizen members to the Smithsonian Board of Regents committed to advancing the policy of [the] order”.

In a message to Smithsonian staff following the order, Bunch said: “We remain steadfast in our mission to bring history, science, education, research, and the arts to all Americans. We will continue to showcase world-class exhibits, collections, and objects, rooted in expertise and accuracy.

“We will continue to employ our internal review processes which keep us accountable to the public. When we err, we adjust, pivot, and learn as needed. As always, our work will be shaped by the best scholarship, free of partisanship, to help the American public better understand our nation’s history, challenges, and triumphs.”

The Smithsonian would “remain committed to telling the multi-faceted stories of this country’s extraordinary heritage”, said Bunch.

Bunch, who has led the institution since 2019 and previously served as the founding director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, said the Smithsonian would work with its Board of Regents, including vice president Vance, “as we have done throughout our history”.

He added: “The Smithsonian is fortunate to have a dedicated board that understands and appreciates the institution’s mission, as well as the importance of scholarship, expertise, and service to the American public.”

‘Everything is being destroyed all at once’ 

The US museum community has expressed fears over government interference, censorship and funding following Trump’s policy decisions.

On 31 March, the entire workforce at the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) was placed on administrative leave following an executive order two weeks ago effectively dismantling the institute.

The organisation is the only federal agency dedicated to supporting and funding museums.

In a statement, the American Alliance of Museums (AAM) said the move “raises questions as to whether the agency will be able to fulfill its legal obligations to disperse congressionally appropriated funding” and would put museums, libraries, and communities across the country “at risk of losing vital resources”.

The alliance said: “This move continues to undermine the will of the American people – 96% of whom want to see federal funding for museums maintained or increased – and prevents American taxpayer dollars from reaching America’s communities.”

The institute makes up 0.0046% of the federal budget and resources to libraries and museums in all 50 US states and territories. In turn, the museum sector generates $50bn in economic impact, according to the AAM.

The statement said: “Museums are vital community anchors, serving all Americans, including youth, seniors, people with disabilities, and veterans. Museums are not only centres for education and inspiration but also economic engines—creating jobs, driving tourism, and strengthening local economies.”

The AAM said it is in communication with its coalition partners and other stakeholders to assess the sector’s legal options.

Elaine Heumann Gurian, a well-known museum practitioner in the US sector, also urged the public to write to their senators to protest the cuts. In a letter to her senator, she acknowledged that “everything is being destroyed all at once” and that this “makes it impossible for you to be effective in saving anything”.

However, Heumann Gurian said: “The IMLS has done excellent and vital work for the museum sector for decades, and its loss will be felt by many, often small, institutions that cannot sustain themselves.”

She added: “This tiny loss is a shame amidst the gigantic, horrible other losses. And you should take a moment to understand the power of little losses amidst the massive catastrophe you are trying to contain.”

Heumann Gurian also welcomed what she described as Bunch’s “principled, low-key, civilised resistance”.

She said: “We need to speak out and publicly support all institutions where we find leadership. This requires a public display of ourselves. This is no time for by-standing.”

Museum bodies elsewhere in the world have expressed solidarity with the US sector. The Australian Historical Association (AHA) said: “The AHA stands in solidarity with our US colleagues, where Donald Trump is attempting far-reaching political interference in the work of historians and museum sector professionals.

“We share their concerns that this administration represents to a threat to historians’ freedom to produce ethical, excellent, evidence-based research.”