Executive Spatial and Jurisdictional Tactics

Fri, July 24 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — On July 24, 2026, President Trump signed Executive Order 14415, titled “Restoring Trust in the Smithsonian Institution”. Because the Smithsonian is an independent trust governed by a Board of Regents rather than an executive branch agency, the president lacks the direct authority to fire its leadership or unilaterally alter internal displays. To bypass this structural autonomy, the administration’s strategy targets the surrounding plazas, walkways, and sidewalks outside the National Museum of American History (NMAH), which fall under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service. The executive order directs federal officials to install temporary warning signs along these approaches. Continue reading →