U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) are pressing the Trump administration for details on its directive to install disclaimers outside the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, sending a letter to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum demanding clarity on the executive order behind the signage.
The inquiry targets Executive Order 14416, titled "Restoring Trust in the Smithsonian Institution," which directs the National Park Service to place temporary signage and exhibits on NPS-managed property surrounding the museum.
Murkowski chairs the Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee; Merkley is its ranking member. Both are using their oversight roles to challenge how the Department of the Interior is executing the president's order.
The senators ask two specific questions: whether any precedent exists for federal land or funds to be used to communicate "conflicting information" to visitors of a nearby institution, and who is compiling the content that will appear on the temporary signs and exhibits.
Critics contend the order is designed to shape public perception of the historical narratives presented inside a federal museum—a charge that cuts to the heart of the Smithsonian's independence from political interference.
The bipartisan push is notable. Murkowski, a Republican, is aligning with Merkley, a Democrat, to challenge a directive from President Trump—a sign that concern over the order's reach extends across party lines.
Burgum and the Department of the Interior must now outline the legal basis and practical specifics behind the planned signage.
