ACLS Statement Regarding the White House Review of Smithsonian Institution Museums
The American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) stands in firm opposition to the latest directive by the White House forcing Smithsonian Institution museums to subject their presentation of American history to government review. This supersedes the oversight of professional scholars and makes the museums tools of the presidential administration.
In its August 12, 2025, letter to Lonnie Bunch, the Secretary of the Smithsonian, the administration gave notice of its intention to conduct an audit of eight of the Smithsonian’s 21 institutions to ensure “alignment with the President’s directive to “celebrate American exceptionalism,” remove “divisive” narratives, and present “uplifting” portrayals of American heritage (Executive Order 14253).
The Smithsonian was established in 1846 to advance knowledge through research and to make knowledge accessible to all through museums, education programs, and public outreach. Many steps are required to make knowledge part of public understanding. Scholars and scientists start with evidence—a worm-eaten page in an archive, an artifact found in an archaeological dig, a book written in a rarely studied language, and all sorts of familiar objects and texts—and only after careful study, writing, editing, informal and often formal peer review do we make the results public. These steps are where expertise is tested and where academic freedom is expressed in real time.
The historical materials at the Smithsonian Institution museums are intended to paint a full and accurate picture of the American experience; by forcing them to edit their exhibits at the administration’s command, the White House is engaging in authoritarian censorship. It is taking another step toward divesting in professional expertise and dismantling principles of academic freedom.
The genuinely patriotic thing we can all do in this moment is to speak out on behalf of the scholars who have dedicated their lives to helping us understand our nation, and for the right of all Americans to learn about our history and culture free from government intrusion.
We encourage you to join us in making your voice heard through op-eds, on social media, at community forums, and by contacting your elected representatives. If you can, support scholars by spreading the news of their work, especially the untold stories in our nation’s diverse history. Join coalitions organized by ACLS and other groups like PEN America to maximize your impact.
Knowledge is a public good. Now is the time to speak out on behalf of its free circulation.