White House Reviews Federal Institutions for "Patriotic Education"

 

Administration directive targets Smithsonian, National Park Service amid criticism from historians

Enrique Jaramillo | August 20, 2025

WASHINGTON D.C., — The White House has initiated a formal review of federal institutions to promote what it calls "patriotic education," drawing sharp criticism from historians and civil rights advocates who characterize the effort as an attempt to whitewash the history of slavery and systemic racism.

The administration's directive, issued under an executive order titled "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History," specifically targets the Smithsonian Institution and the National Park Service. The order aims to remove conte

nt that the administration considers "negative about either past or living Americans."

According to an administration official who spoke on condition of anonymity, the Smithsonian's museums have been criticized for what the White House views as an "excessive" focus on the history of slavery. The directive calls for an overhaul of exhibits to align them with a narrative emphasizing "American exceptionalism."

The National Park Service has received similar instructions to review its historical markers and educational materials. According to a Guardian report, park staff have been identifying books, exhibits and signs that detail the brutality of slavery for potential revision or removal.

"This is a clear attempt to sanitize American history and present a version that ignores uncomfortable truths," said Dr. Sarah Martinez, a historian at Georgetown University who specializes in slavery and Civil War history. "You cannot tell the story of America without honestly confronting its most difficult chapters."

Reviving Historical Commissions

The review is part of a broader ideological battle over how U.S. history should be taught and remembered. The administration has re-established the 1776 Commission, which historians widely view as a political counterpoint to The New York Times' 1619 Project, which reframes American history around the consequences of slavery.

The 1776 Commission, first created in 2020 and disbanded in 2021, was criticized by professional historians for lacking academic rigor and promoting a politically motivated interpretation of American history. The commission's previous report downplayed the significance of slavery in the nation's founding and dismissed efforts to examine systemic racism as divisive.

Educational Partnerships Expand Reach

The administration's influence extends beyond federal institutions through new educational partnerships. In June, the White House announced a collaboration with PragerU, a conservative media organization known for its animated educational videos, to create an exhibit commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

This partnership represents part of PragerU's broader push to integrate its content into public school curricula nationwide. According to PBS News, education officials in Oklahoma have announced that teachers in participating districts must pass a PragerU-administered assessment to receive certification in American history.

The content has drawn scrutiny from educators and historians. In one PragerU animated video about Christopher Columbus, the Christopher Columbus character states: "Slavery is as old as time and has taken place in every corner of the world... Being taken as a slave is better than being killed, no?"

"This type of false equivalency minimizes the unique horror and scale of American slavery," said Dr. James Wilson, director of African American Studies at Howard University. "It's not education — it's historical revisionism designed to make people feel comfortable about an uncomfortable past."

Several states, including Florida, New Hampshire and Arizona, have approved PragerU materials as supplemental resources for K-12 students. Dr. Emily Chen, an education policy researcher at the University of Pennsylvania, described the development as "unprecedented" in terms of a private organization becoming institutionalized within state education systems.

Connection to Broader Policy Blueprint

The administration's actions align closely with Project 2025, a comprehensive policy blueprint developed by a coalition of conservative organizations for reshaping federal government. The 900-page document outlines plans to fundamentally alter how American history and civics are taught.

Project 2025 proposes eliminating the Department of Education (page 319) and ending federal civil rights protections in schools (page 322). The document explicitly calls for removing what it terms "critical race theory" and "gender ideology" from school curricula (pages 345, 362), though many educators note that critical race theory is primarily taught at the graduate level, not in K-12 schools.

The blueprint also targets Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs across federal agencies (pages 345, 378, 377), which critics say provides the framework for the current review of institutions like the Smithsonian and National Park Service.

"What we're seeing is not isolated policy decisions but a coordinated strategy," said Dr. Michael Torres, a public policy analyst at the Brookings Institution. "The goal appears to be controlling the narrative in both our national museums and our classrooms."

Historical Precedent and Criticism

The current effort has drawn comparisons to historical attempts to control educational content for political purposes. During the Cold War, textbooks were scrutinized for communist influences. In the 1990s, conservative groups successfully challenged national history standards they viewed as too critical of American actions.

The American Historical Association, the nation's oldest organization of professional historians, issued a statement condemning the administration's review. "History is not propaganda," the statement read. "The role of historians and educational institutions is to present the full complexity of the American experience, not to serve as cheerleaders for any particular interpretation."

Civil rights organizations have also voiced opposition. Derrick Johnson, president of the NAACP, called the initiative "a dangerous attempt to erase the experiences of African Americans and other marginalized communities from our national story."

Looking Forward

The administration has not provided a timeline for completing its institutional review, though officials suggest changes could be implemented before the end of the year. Legal challenges are expected, particularly regarding any changes to federally funded educational materials or museum exhibits.

As the debate continues, educators, historians and civil rights advocates warn that the stakes extend beyond academic discussions to fundamental questions about how America remembers its past and prepares its citizens for the future.

"Democracy requires an informed citizenry," said Dr. Martinez. "That means teaching history in all its complexity, not just the parts that make us feel good about ourselves."