Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska has broken with most of her party by questioning President Donald Trump’s efforts to challenge what he describes as “woke” interpretations of US history at the Smithsonian. Alongside Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon, she has sought more information from the administration about its directive, signalling concern over federal involvement in museum content and historical presentation.

The dispute centres on Trump’s order to place temporary warning signs at Smithsonian sites whose exhibits he believes prioritise activism over history. Murkowski, a moderate Republican, is joining a Democratic colleague in requesting details of how the directive would operate, while other Republicans have backed greater scrutiny of Smithsonian spending and exhibits.