A federal trust instrumentality safeguarding US science, history and culture since 1846.
A court has ordered the restoration of materials removed from national parks and paused further deletions, with weekly status reports required. The ruling covers sites like Independence National Historical Park and others nationwide as the administration faces ongoing litigation over its executive order to review exhibits deemed negative.
A three-judge circuit panel has overturned a lower court, saying Philadelphia’s contract claims over Independence National Historical Park lack merit; it also praises replacement panels as historically contextual. The decision comes amid parallel federal orders about restoring removed exhibits and expanding historical narratives at national parks.
Trump marks the 250th anniversary with a Capitol rally and a national mall event, touting achievements while warning of a communist threat. The event faced heat and a weather evacuation, with global leaders sending messages of support and criticism of the administration’s approach to the celebration.
Trump has framed America’s 250th anniversary as a moment to press for voting restrictions and to cast communists as a threat, delivering a concise, politically charged speech on the National Mall after a weather delay.
A White House Domestic Policy Council report has accused the National Museum of American History of ideological capture and distorting U.S. history, arguing for a restoration of a shared patriotic narrative. Smithsonian leadership rejects claims of partisan activism while officials weigh possible changes.
The White House Domestic Policy Council has released a 162-page report accusing the National Museum of American History of ideological capture and anti-white bias. The document, issued on Independence Day, signals a broader push to reshape how American history is presented. Smithsonian leadership denies politicization while observers weigh possible leadership changes.
The White House has issued an executive order directing sidewalk signs around the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History to warn visitors about alleged inaccuracies in the museum’s portrayal of American history and to point to sources for a corrected narrative. Smithsonian leadership defends its scholarship and fullness of America’s story as Republicans press for hearings and potential changes on Capitol Hill.
AP, Independent and Ars Technica recount Apollo 11 relics tied to the 1969 lunar mission. A broken circuit-breaker switch and a felt-tip pen helped Armstrong and Aldrin escape the Moon’s surface; bidders have paid nearly $1 million for the items that helped the mission return home.
The cease-fire with Iran has collapsed as attacks on shipping resume and the Strait of Hormuz remains volatile. U.S. and Iranian forces are trading strikes; oil prices have climbed above $100 again. The situation is accelerating, with no clear exit in sight and economic pressure mounting.
The Department of State has begun issuing Patriot Passports, featuring a living president’s portrait, at 27 passport offices nationwide. In-person applications are required on designated days; the gold-embossed interior shows the president’s signature. The move follows a wave of high-visibility tributes to the president, including coins and potential currency signatures.
Investigators say a No. 2 engine fan blade broke off shortly after takeoff from Thessaloniki, shattering a window and injuring a passenger. The aircraft returned safely to Thessaloniki; ultrasonic inspections showed prior bird strikes and engine parts remain under investigation.