The White House sent a letter to The Smithsonian requesting a "comprehensive internal review" of eight of its museums with the aim of bringing the organization in line with President Trump's cultural directives ahead of the country's 250th anniversary celebrations.
"This initiative aims to ensure alignment with the President's directive to celebrate American exceptionalism, remove divisive or partisan narratives, and restore confidence in our shared cultural institutions," states the letter, addressed to Smithsonian secretary Lonnie Bunch.
The letter sets out a detailed list of materials the museums need to submit for White House appraisal, including grant-related documentation, inventories of permanent holdings and visitor surveys and it lays out a timeline by which The Trump Administration expects parts of the review process to be completed, with specific 30, 75 and 120 day targets.
"Within 120 days, museums should begin implementing content corrections where necessary, replacing divisive or ideologically driven language with unifying, historically accurate, and constructive descriptions across placards, wall didactics, digital displays, and other public-facing materials," the letter states.
The Smithsonian said in a statement Tuesday that its work "is grounded in a deep commitment to scholarly excellence, rigorous research, and the accurate, factual presentation of history. We are reviewing the letter with this commitment in mind and will continue to collaborate constructively with the White House, Congress, and our governing Board of Regents."
The letter in full here