Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch to Step Down Amid White House Pressure

Lonnie Bunch, the historian who became the first Black secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, announced on Tuesday that he will retire by the end of the year. His departure follows months of escalating pressure from the Trump administration, which has accused the institution's museums of presenting a distorted and divisive narrative of the United States.

Bunch, who has led the Smithsonian since 2019, said in a statement that he leaves with "mixed emotions and heartfelt gratitude." He described the next phase of his career as one that will allow him to "continue to protect the integrity of the Smithsonian and to champion the importance of a history that illuminates and celebrates the complex story of our nation."

Chief Justice John Roberts, who serves as the Smithsonian's chancellor, praised Bunch's tenure, saying he "pursued excellence in the telling of our nation's story."

Bunch previously oversaw the creation and opening of the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) in 2016, a project that realized a century-old goal. The museum has since become a focal point of conservative criticism. In March, President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing Vice President JD Vance to remove what he called "improper, divisive or anti-American ideology" from the institution, singling out the NMAAHC.

The White House intensified its campaign in July, releasing a report on the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence that accused Smithsonian leaders of engaging in "anti-white activism" and producing materials that treat "biological males as girls or women." The report suggested placing warning labels at the entrance of the National Museum of American History.

Bunch responded to staff shortly after, stating that while improvement is always possible, the report was not a fair characterization of the museum's work. Trump has also publicly criticized the institution, writing on Truth Social that the Smithsonian is "OUT OF CONTROL" and focuses excessively on the nation's flaws.

In an essay marking the 250th anniversary, Bunch defended the need for an honest historical record, writing that "an incomplete telling of our past, with rough edges smoothed, inhibits the country's ability to forge a better shared future." He also lauded the contributions of immigrants and descendants of enslaved people, noting their belief in America's potential to become "the land of freedom."

Bunch's departure comes after the administration threatened to cut federal support for the institution and following the firing of Kim Sajet, the first woman to direct the National Portrait Gallery, over her support for diversity initiatives.