Executive Order 14416

Restoring Trust in the Smithsonian Institution

Signed July 24, 2026, printed at 91 FR 47925. 3 sections of substance, 747 words.

In plain English

This order is about the Smithsonian. It points to a review of the history museum. It asks officials to act on what the review found.

Read it at the Federal Register →

Sec. 1. Policy

On March 27, 2025, I issued Executive Order 14253 (Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History). Pursuant to that order, the Domestic Policy Council recently completed a months-long review of the Smithsonian Institution and its National Museum of American History (Museum) and issued its findings in the report entitled Saving America's Story: How Ideological Capture at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History Erases Our Heritage (Report). The Report demonstrates that the Smithsonian leadership does not present American history as a shared national inheritance to be taught and celebrated, but instead views American history as a ``prime tool'' to advance ideas of social justice and the radical transformation of our society. The Report also overwhelmingly demonstrates that current leadership of both the Smithsonian Institution and the Museum cannot be trusted to

In plain English

This recalls a March 2025 order. A policy council then reviewed the Smithsonian. Its history museum was the focus. The review took months. A report followed. The report says the leaders do not present the country's history as a shared inheritance. It says they treat it as a tool for social change. It says those leaders cannot be trusted.

Sec. 2. Restoring Trust in the Smithsonian Institution

The Secretary of the Interior, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, the Administrator of General Services, and the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy shall identify and utilize any and all available authorities to promote the policy of this order and to restore trust in the Smithsonian Institution, including any mechanisms available to encourage correction of the issues identified in the Report and compliance with any applicable statutes, regulations, executive actions, and funding or contract conditions.

In plain English

This tells four officials to act. Interior is one. The budget office is another. The buildings agency is a third. A policy aide is the fourth. They must use every power they have. The aim is to restore trust in the Smithsonian. They must push for the report's fixes. Funding and contract terms are named as levers.

Sec. 3.

Warning Visitors About the Ideological Capture at the National Museum of American History. (a) The Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the National Park Service (NPS) and in coordination with the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy, shall install temporary signage along the NPS- maintained sisdewalks and walkways used by the public to access the Museum, informing visitors of the findings of the Report and of the policy set forth in section 1 of this order. Such signage shall notify visitors that the Museum exhibits should be renovated consistent with the findings in the Report and direct visitors to locations and resources for accurate information regarding America's history. (b) Because the Museum has failed to appropriately honor the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence during this 250th anniversary year of the founding of our country, the

In plain English

This puts up warning signs. Interior acts through the park service. A policy aide helps. The signs go on public walkways to the museum. They must state what the report found. They must state the policy in this order. They must say the exhibits should be redone. They must point visitors to other sources. The 250th year is noted too.

Sec. 4. General Provisions

Every order carries this. It is not what the order does.

(a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect: (i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or [[Page 47926]] (ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals. (b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations. (c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person. (d) The costs for publication of this order shall be borne by the Department of the Interior. <GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT> (Presidential Sig.) THE WHITE HOUSE, July 24,

In plain English

This is the closing clause that nearly every order carries. It says the order does not change what the law already allows. It also says no one can sue to enforce it.

How this order is quoted

Each section is quoted as the order prints it, under its own number and heading. Executive orders are United States government works and are not under copyright. Long sections are cut at a sentence and the whole order is a click away.