Murkowski, Merkley demand answers on Trump’s Smithsonian disclaimers

Senate Murkowski, Merkley demand answers on Trump’s Smithsonian disclaimers Comments: by Sarah Davis - 08/07/26 5:12 PM ET Comments: Link copied by Sarah Davis - 08/07/26 5:12 PM ET Comments: Link copied

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A bipartisan pair of lawmakers are requesting more information from the Trump administration about its plans to install disclaimers outside of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.

GOP Sen. Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) and Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley (Ore.) — the chair and ranking member, respectively, on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies — expressed concern about the project in a Thursday letter to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum.

Executive Order 14416, “Restoring Trust in the Smithsonian Institution,” compels Burgum, alongside National Park Service Director Jessica Bowron and the assistant to the president for domestic policy, to install temporary signage outside of the museum to warn visitors about alleged inaccuracies included in its exhibits.

“For the past 180 years, the Smithsonian Institution has been committed to sharing objective historical evidence through research and education, not political narratives,” the lawmakers wrote.

“The Smithsonian Institution has worked tirelessly to present a comprehensive narrative of our nation’s amazing history, from its many triumphs to its trials,” they continued. “There is nothing more American than telling our story truthfully.”

The signage installation project is the latest in President Trump’s and his administration’s efforts to crack down on the Smithsonian Institution over exhibits they say do not align with their view of American history.

In his executive order last month, the president cited the results of a report produced by the White House Domestic Policy Council, which conducted a months-long review of the museum’s exhibits.

“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 president said in his executive order.

The Smithsonian Institution declined to comment at the time the order was issued.

Murkowski and Merkley requested that the Interior secretary provide Congress with more information about these disclaimers, including the cost of their installation, a map displaying the signs’ locations and quantity and the length of their “temporary” installation.

The Hill has reached out to the Interior Department for comment.