Trump Demands Removal OF Slavery And Black History Exhibits From National Parks And Museums
NEWS & RESEARCH
In March 2025, President Trump signed an Executive Order demanding that museums, parks, and national landmarks remove or rewrite any content that "inappropriately disparages Americans past or living." His administration then forced the National Park Service (NPS) to remove an exhibit at the former home of George Washington in Philadelphia highlighting the lives of the enslaved people who lived there and to take down an iconic Civil War photograph in Georgia showing brutal scars on an enslaved person's back. Dozens of other exhibits documenting racism across the country were also flagged for removal. The Smithsonian Institution has been particularly targeted: the federal government required eight of its museums to submit their contents for review after Trump said he wanted to rid the museums of their "woke" ideology, claiming they were too focused on "how bad slavery was." Inside the Smithsonian’s galleries, wall plaques have been removed from many works of art—particularly those addressing racism—leaving them devoid of context.
ANALYSIS & OPINION
Trump immediately received backlash for his decision, with critics saying he is trying to erase Black history from America’s past. U.S. District Judge Cynthia Rufe compared the administration to the Ministry of Truth, a totalitarian regime that revised historical records to align with its own narratives in the dystopian novel, 1984. There are also legal implications. As one historian puts it, “When the White House orders museums to comply with a single viewpoint on our shared history, that violates the First Amendment and Americans’ rights to free expression under the Bill of Rights.” Many worry that this type of censorship could also have ripple effects at the state and local levels, as small museums and public libraries could be pressured to modify their collections. The White House itself even said, “[Trump] will start with the Smithsonian and then go from there.”
SOURCES: The Guardian |PBS | Spotlight PA | New York Times | Politico | EveryLibrary | NPR
HOW TO FIX IT
Litigation:
The City of Philadelphia sued the Interior Department and NPS to stop the removal of its slavery exhibit, arguing the action violated the Administrative Procedure Act and breached a formal agreement requiring the site to "commemorate the enslaved Africans who resided [there]." A federal judge sided with the city, ordering all materials to be restored in their original condition and prohibiting Trump officials from installing replacements that reframe history. The administration plans to appeal.
A coalition of advocacy groups led by Democracy Forward filed a broader federal lawsuit challenging the administration's systematic dismantling of NPS exhibits across the country. The case, which is still ongoing, seeks to block further removals nationwide and restore exhibits already taken down at nearly 30 park sites.
Federal action:
Pass the Protecting American History Act, which would restore the slavery-related exhibit that the administration removed from George Washington’s home in Independence National Historical Park and protect all historical displays in the park from political interference and censorship.
Vote NO on the Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History Act and the EO 14253 Act of 2025, which would codify Trump’s executive order and direct the Smithsonian and National Park Service to remove any content with “racial narratives” or “woke” ideology from their sites.
Block funding for Trump’s order to remove exhibits about slavery and other “inappropriate” topics. Fifty-three House Democrats signed a letter to pressure an Appropriations subcommittee to include language in the FY 2027 spending bill that would prohibit the use of funds to “implement, administer, or enforce” his order.
Demand accountability on the stalled Inspector General investigation. In May 2025, 71 House Democrats formally requested that the Smithsonian Inspector General investigate whether Trump's executive order to remove "race-centered ideology" violates federal law and compromises the institution’s independence. More than a year later, no findings have been made public. Congress can continue to demand that they be released.
Pass the African American History Act of 2026. While it doesn't directly address the administration's overreach in removing exhibits nationwide, it offers a powerful response by codifying Black history in federal law, funding its preservation and teaching, and building a long-term, congressionally funded counterweight to the administration's erasure efforts.
Legislation: H.R.7763 - Protecting American History Act | S.3953 - African American History Act of 2026
