Anastasios Tsoulkas

In a letter posted online in December, the White House said that today is the deadline for eight Smithsonian museums to submit thousands of documents for review to comply with an executive order issued by President Trump last March.

The museums under current review include the National Museum of American History and the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

The White House says that federal funds for the Smithsonian's $1 billion budget depend on the institution fulfilling these terms.

The Smithsonian declined to comment to NPR.

According to the Smithsonian's charter, all of its museums and research centers are meant to be run independently of the federal government.

Anastasia Tsoulkas, NPR News, New York.