Lonnie Bunch III, the 14th Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, announced Tuesday that he will retire from his post by the end of the year. Bunch, who has led the institution since 2019 and previously served as the founding director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, cited an escalating clash with the Trump administration over the leadership and direction of the nation's museums.
In a statement, Bunch expressed mixed emotions about his departure. "I have spent nearly half of my life working at and being part of the Smithsonian family, and what a privilege it has been," he said. "There is no place like the Smithsonian — it has been one of the great loves of my life, and I am extraordinarily proud of what we have accomplished together."
Bunch's retirement follows increased scrutiny from the Trump administration, which has accused Smithsonian leadership of incorporating progressive ideology into its historical presentations. A letter made public by the Department of the Interior, though lacking specific evidence of illegal activity, stated that the institution's "institutional culture may have resulted in significant violations of Federal antidiscrimination law," including allegations of a hostile work environment and inequitable allocation of resources based on protected characteristics. The administration had warned that federal support could be withdrawn if concerns were not addressed, indicating that an "appropriate response" must also address "executive leadership and institutional ideology." This pressure campaign followed a 2025 executive order directing officials to identify and remove what the administration deemed "improper ideology" from the Smithsonian.
Bunch became Secretary of the Smithsonian in June 2019, becoming the first African American and the first historian to hold the position. His tenure included overseeing the creation and opening of the National Museum of African American History and Culture in 2016.
Chief Justice John Roberts, who serves as chancellor of the Smithsonian, praised Bunch's service. "From his days as a young curator at the National Air and Space and American History Museums through his tenure as the founding director of the African American History and Culture Museum and culminating in his distinguished service for the past seven years in the Smithsonian’s top job, Secretary Bunch has pursued excellence in the telling of our nation’s story," Roberts stated. The Smithsonian Board of Regents will announce an acting secretary and initiate a national search for Bunch's successor.