Lonnie G. Bunch III, the secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, announced on Tuesday that he will resign at the end of 2026. Bunch, 73, has served in the role for over seven years, surpassing the tenure of his two most recent predecessors.
While Bunch's retirement is not solely attributed to President Donald Trump, the president's persistent criticism of the Smithsonian is a significant factor. The White House has described some of the institution's content as promoting "improper, divisive, or anti-American ideology." Bunch himself commented to The New York Times that "at a certain point, I’d like to wake up in the morning and not look at my cellphone."
Since last spring, Trump has openly criticized the Smithsonian for what he termed "narratives that portray American and Western values as inherently harmful and oppressive." During his presidency, Trump threatened the institution's funding, oversaw the departure of the National Portrait Gallery director, and reportedly sought to influence its exhibits. Though the Smithsonian's governance structure limited the administration's ability to enact direct changes, the appointment of a new secretary could potentially grant Trump greater influence.
Administration officials have also reportedly pushed for a new exhibit at the National Portrait Gallery to focus on the president.
While Trump does not have a direct role in selecting Bunch's successor, the Smithsonian's Board of Regents will make the choice. This board includes Vice President J.D. Vance and several Republican members of Congress. Washington Post art and architecture critic Philip Kennicott suggested that the future direction of the Smithsonian may depend on the Board of Regents, and particularly its chancellor, Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, to resist potential political influence.