Aug. 12 (UPI) -- The White House has ordered a sweeping review of the Smithsonian's exhibitions and materials as part of President Donald Trump's efforts to promote a rosier presentation of the nation's past.
The order came in a letter signed by three White House aides to Smithsonian Institution Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III that was posted online Tuesday. The letter indicates that the Trump administration is again turning its attention on the Smithsonian, a premiere group of museums and research centers located in the nation's capital, as it seeks to reshape cultural institutions.
The letter requested a sizable list of the Smithsonian's internal documents that will be used in a review to ensure the museum aligns with an earlier Trump administration directive "to celebrate American exceptionalism, remove divisive or partisan narratives, and restore confidence in our shared cultural institutions."
The review will focus on eight of the Smithsonian's museums with an eye on next year's 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the museum's plans for the event, according to the letter. Materials that will be included in the review included exhibition texts, educational materials and social media "to assess tone, historical framing, and alignment with American ideals."
