Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch III will retire by the end of 2026 after more than seven years leading the institution, as the Trump administration continues efforts to reshape how its museums present American history.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom.
Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch III announced Tuesday that he will retire by the end of the year, concluding more than seven years as head of the nation’s sprawling museum and research institution as it faces sustained pressure from the Trump administration over the presentation of American history.
Bunch, 73, said the administration’s actions did not cause his decision to step down and that he intends to continue defending the Smithsonian’s independence through the remainder of his tenure, according to The Washington Post.
His departure comes as President Donald Trump’s administration intensifies its effort to change exhibits and historical narratives across Smithsonian museums ahead of the United States’ 250th anniversary.
The administration informed Smithsonian leadership last year that it planned to review museum exhibitions and other public-facing material, arguing that some displays presented ideological or politically divisive interpretations of the nation’s history.
“This initiative aims to ensure alignment with the president’s directive to celebrate American exceptionalism, remove divisive or partisan narratives, and restore confidence in our shared cultural institutions,” a letter sent to Bunch said.
The administration’s scrutiny has since expanded, including demands for information about exhibitions and curatorial practices and threats to reduce federal support if the institution does not address concerns raised by the White House.
Bunch has defended the Smithsonian’s autonomy and its approach to presenting complicated episodes in American history. The Smithsonian is governed by its Board of Regents rather than directly by the president, and the board selects the institution’s secretary.
Bunch became the Smithsonian’s 14th secretary in 2019 and was the first Black person to lead the institution. Before assuming its top position, he was founding director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, overseeing the museum’s development before its opening in 2016.
His retirement will occur as the Smithsonian remains at the center of a continuing dispute over how federally supported museums should portray American history and how much influence a presidential administration should exercise over their exhibitions.
The Smithsonian’s Board of Regents will oversee the process of selecting Bunch’s successor.
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