Historian Lonnie Bunch will step down from his role as secretary of the Smithsonian Institution at the end of this year. He announced his decision after facing increasing criticism from the Trump administration. Bunch expressed mixed emotions in his statement, reflecting on nearly four decades with the Smithsonian.
“I have spent nearly half of my life working at and being part of the Smithsonian family, and what a privilege it has been,” Bunch said. His tenure included significant achievements such as co-founding the National Museum of African American History and Culture, which opened in 2016.
Bunch explained to The New York Times that his decision to retire wasn’t due to disputes with the administration. “Now’s the time,” he stated, also acknowledging the stress he experienced. “At a certain point, I’d like to wake up in the morning and not look at my cellphone,” he added.
Chief Justice John Roberts, who serves as chancellor of the Smithsonian, praised Bunch for his contribution to the institution. “He has pursued excellence in the telling of our nation’s story,” Roberts remarked, noting the benefits of Bunch’s leadership.
The Trump administration’s critique of the Smithsonian has intensified since 2025. An internal review of the Smithsonian’s renowned museums was initiated, and President Trump signed an executive order targeting “improper ideology” at the institution. The review included museums like the National Museum of African American History and Culture, noted in the order for allegedly promoting “divisive, race-centered ideology.” Other museums, such as the Air and Space Museum and the National Museum of American History, were also assessed.
In July, Trump mandated corrections to “inaccurate” historical information at the National Museum of American History. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum criticized the Smithsonian’s leadership in a letter, accusing them of fostering radical ideology and weakening American identity and heritage.
The Smithsonian consists of 21 museums, 20 libraries, several research centers, and the National Zoo. Bunch’s initial engagement with the Smithsonian began in 1978 at the National Air and Space Museum. He held numerous roles at the National Museum of American History until 2000, returning in 2005 to establish the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
In a 2019 CBS “Sunday Morning” interview, Bunch described the Smithsonian as “part of the glue that holds the country together.” He emphasized the importance of culture in uniting people, seeing it as an opportunity to find common ground.