AP WASHINGTON

President Donald Trump has revealed his intention to force changes at the Smithsonian Institution with an executive order that targets funding for programmes that advance "divisive narratives" and "improper ideology", the latest step in a broadside against culture he deems too liberal.

Trump claimed there has been a "concerted and widespread" effort over the past decade to rewrite American history by replacing "objective facts" with a "distorted narrative driven by ideology rather than truth," adding that it casts the "founding principles" of the United States in a "negative light”.

The order, he signed behind closed doors, puts Vice-President JD Vance, who serves on the Smithsonian Institution's Board of Regents, in charge of overseeing efforts to "remove improper ideology" from all areas of the institution, including its museums, education and research centres and the National Zoo.

It marks the Republican President's latest salvo against cultural pillars of society, such as universities and art, that he considers out of step with conservative sensibilities. Trump recently had himself installed as chairman of the John F Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts with the aim of overhauling programming, including the annual Kennedy Centre Honours awards show.

No unions

President Trump on Thursday signed another executive order to end collective bargaining with federal labour unions in agencies with national security missions across the federal government, citing authority granted to him under a 1978 law. The order, signed without public fanfare late on Thursday, appears to touch most of the federal government.

Trump said the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 gives him the authority to end collective bargaining with federal unions in these agencies because of their role in safeguarding national security. The affected agencies include the departments of state, defence, Veterans affairs, energy, health and human services, treasury, justice and commerce and the part of homeland security responsible for border security. Police and firefighters will continue to collectively bargain.