Story perspectives

Trump Orders Warning Signs at Smithsonian Amid Budget Cuts

8/9/2026

Summary

Trump Targets Museum

President Donald Trump ordered warning signs outside the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History in late July.
The White House released a 162-page report accusing the museum of emphasizing slavery, Indigenous suffering and gender-fluid narratives.
The FY 2026 budget request would reduce Smithsonian funding below $1 billion, allocating $27 million to the museum and $524 million for operations.

Summary

Murkowski, Merkley Probe

Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon) wrote Interior Secretary Doug Burgum requesting signage details.
The letter asks for the signs’ number, size, locations, wording, costs and staff count.
It also queries whether any National Park Service precedent exists for using land to challenge an agency’s scholarship.
Merkley said he will “fight like hell” to block the cuts while Murkowski vowed to oppose President Donald Trump’s attorney-general pick Todd Blanche.

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Trump Targets Museum

President Donald Trump ordered warning signs outside the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History in late July.
The White House released a 162-page report accusing the museum of emphasizing slavery, Indigenous suffering and gender-fluid narratives.
The FY 2026 budget request would reduce Smithsonian funding below $1 billion, allocating $27 million to the museum and $524 million for operations.

1 / 2