The recently elected President Donald Trump issued another executive order this Thursday to remove “Improper Ideology” from the Smithsonian Museums as well as the National Zoo. This order has expanded his conservative clampdown on cultural institutions. The President has been quite adamant on rooting out what he calls the “woke” culture. He also accused the Smithsonian of trying to rewrite American history on issues of race and gender. If you want to know more about Trump’s targeting of “Improper ideology,” this article is for you. The following article brings you everything you must know about the executive order issued on Thursday.
Trump Targets ‘Improper Ideology’ In Zoo: What Does The Order Issued Say?
The order that Trump signed on Thursday stated that the Smithsonian Institution was once symbolic of American excellence and a global icon of cultural achievement. However, in recent years, it has come under the influence of a divisive, race-centered ideology. This shift is promoting narratives that portray American and Western values as inherently harmful and oppressive. Trump also alleged that the Biden administration advanced a “corrosive ideology” at the museums, also singling out certain entities. Trump also mentioned in the order how entities like the National Museum of African American History and Culture perpetuate “divisive” and “race-centered” ideas.
JD Vance In Charge Of The Implementation
Trump has officially given Vice President JD Vance the responsibility for the implementation of the order at the Smithsonian’s museums, education, and research centers. He also added that this should contain a drive that removes improper ideology from such properties. Vance is an official member of the Smithsonian Board of Regents. Trump also directed Doug Burgum, the Interior Secretary, to restore federal parks and monuments that have been improperly changed or removed.
Trump’s War On Diversity, Equity And Inclusion
Trump’s administration, from the very first day, has been actively pushing forward with his war on concepts like diversity, equity, and inclusion. These terms, he believes, are widely used labels applied to efforts done in the way of improving work culture and create more opportunities for disadvantaged groups. The executive order came with Trump’s rationale for reverting the name of Alaska’s Mount Denali to Mount McKinley. It also came with the explanation of Pete Hegseth, Defense Secretary, for reversing a Biden administration decision to rename military bases honoring Confederate leaders.
Closure Of The DEI Department
President Trump has officially issued directives placing all the federal workers of the DEI department on administrative leave. He has also closed all the DEI offices and removed mentions of the department on all the federal websites. The Trump administration has also tightened its grip on the Education Department. It has opened investigations into more than 50 universities it accused of engaging in race-exclusionary practices in their graduate programs. The Defence Department also deleted thousands of pages that honored the contributions of women, blacks, Native Americans, and other minority groups. This was done to ensure it does not promote DEI. However, some of these pages were restored after severe backlash.
Smithsonian Institution’s Recent Budget Request
The Smithsonian Institution generated funds for its operations either through government appropriations or the investments and gifts received. It has recently requested funds worth $1 billion from the US Congress in order to meet essential operating expenses. In a recent statement from the Secretary of the institution, he explained that the institution depends on ancillary sources of funding for all its collaborations. U.S. Congress is one of the most important partners of the institution. Trump has directed the order to ensure that future federal funding for the Smithsonian does not go into programs that degrade American values or cause divides based on race. He also stated that the programs should not promote improper ideologies or recognise men as women.
