- The Smithsonian Institution’s top official, Lonnie G. Bunch III, is retiring, ushering in a seismic transition at the nation’s museum and research organization.
- Bunch announced his retirement with mixed emotions, stating, "I leave with pride and sadness, gratitude and joy, and with enormous confidence in the people who will carry this remarkable institution forward."
- The Board of Regents have yet to name an acting chief but have announced a national search for a new secretary.
- Bunch, the 14th secretary of the Smithsonian, has had a long career in museums, including four decades at the Smithsonian.
- In 2005, he became the founding director of the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture.
- In 2019, Bunch was named secretary of the Smithsonian, becoming the first historian and the first African American to hold the position.
- In August 2025, Trump called for a overhaul of eight Smithsonian museums, directing them to 'celebrate American exceptionalism.'
- In July 2026, the Trump administration issued a report accusing the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History of bias.
- Bunch defended the Smithsonian's work, writing in July, "At the Smithsonian, our work is driven by scholarship, accuracy and an uncompromising commitment to tell the fullness of America's story."
Lonnie G. Bunch III, the 14th secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, is retiring at the end of the year, marking a significant transition for the organization. Bunch, who has spent four decades in museums, became the first African American to lead the Smithsonian in 2019.146
In his retirement announcement, Bunch expressed mixed emotions, stating, "I leave with pride and sadness, gratitude and joy, and with enormous confidence in the people who will carry this remarkable institution forward." His tenure has been marked by efforts to expand the Smithsonian's narrative, including plans for the Smithsonian American Women's History Museum and the National Museum of the American Latino.
However, Bunch's leadership coincided with President Trump's increasing scrutiny of the institution. The Smithsonian has faced criticism from Trump, who has called for a reorientation of its museums to "celebrate American exceptionalism". In August 2025, he directed the Smithsonian to adjust its portrayal of American history, which has raised concerns about the integrity of its scholarship.7
Despite the pressures, Bunch clarified in an interview that his decision to retire was not due to external pressure, stating, "It was really just saying, now's the time." The Smithsonian's Board of Regents has initiated a search for his successor, as Bunch leaves behind a legacy of commitment to "scholarship, accuracy and an uncompromising commitment to tell the fullness of America's story."
“Bunch, the 14th secretary and first African American to lead the Smithsonian, steps down amid Trump's August 2025 call to overhaul eight museums and a July 2026 report accusing the National Museum of American History of bias. The Board of Regents has yet to name an acting chief, launching a national search.”
NPR
