ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Trump's Executive Orders Reshape US Museums and Cultural Institutions

cultural-heritage · 2026-04-26

The International Council of Museums (ICOM) is updating its Code of Ethics to assist museums in managing intricate cultural and political environments, emphasizing areas such as accessibility, ethical practices, education, collections, and governance. Following President Donald Trump's signing of an order on January 20, 2025, to terminate "illegal and immoral discrimination programs," both the National Gallery of Art and the Smithsonian Institution shuttered their diversity offices. On March 27, Trump released "RESTORING TRUTH AND MENTAL HEALTH IN AMERICAN HISTORY," which called for the elimination of "improper ideologies" from Smithsonian entities and required public monuments to refrain from content that "inappropriately denigrates" Americans, with funding cuts looming for those that do not comply. The next day, Columbia University President Katrina Armstrong stepped down after policy adjustments aimed at regaining $400 million in federal funding.

Key facts

  • ICOM is revising its Code of Ethics with five principles.
  • Trump signed an executive order on January 20, 2025, ending DEI programs.
  • National Gallery of Art and Smithsonian Institution closed diversity offices.
  • Trump's March 27 order targets 'improper ideologies' in Smithsonian museums.
  • Order bans content that 'denigrates' Americans, including references to segregation and Native American massacres.
  • Trump administration threatens funding cuts for non-compliant institutions.
  • Columbia University President Katrina Armstrong resigned on March 28, 2025.
  • Columbia accepted policy changes to restore $400 million in federal funding.

Entities

Artists

  • Umberto Eco

Institutions

  • ICOM – International Council of Museums
  • National Gallery of Art
  • Smithsonian Institution
  • National Zoo
  • Department of the Interior
  • Columbia University
  • Office of Management and Budget
  • Congress
  • La nave di Teseo
  • The New York Review of Books

Locations

  • United States
  • Washington, D.C.
  • New York City
  • Italy

Sources