Lonnie G. Bunch III will step down from his position as head of the sprawling Smithsonian Institution by the end of the year, he said Tuesday.
He will depart at a vulnerable time for the institution, which includes 21 museums, 20 libraries and the National Zoo. While it has traditionally operated independently of the party in power, the Trump administration has repeatedly criticized the Smithsonian’s presentation of America’s past. Last week, the Interior Department threatened to cut off support, alleging that Smithsonian facilities present a “radical ideology” that weakens “shared American identity.”
Bunch, who has worked at the Smithsonian for 38 years, said in a statement: “It is with very mixed emotions and heartfelt gratitude that I announce my retirement.”
“I have spent nearly half of my life working at and being part of the Smithsonian family, and what a privilege it has been. 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,” said Bunch, who became secretary in 2019.
He is the first Black and first historian to lead the Smithsonian.
“I leave with pride and sadness, gratitude and joy, and with enormous confidence in the people who will carry this remarkable institution forward,” Bunch added.
Chief Justice John Roberts, who serves as chancellor of the Smithsonian, praised Bunch in a statement.
“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 said.
“The Regents, and the Smithsonian, have benefited greatly from his wisdom, vision and leadership. We look forward to working with him in the coming months to ensure a smooth transition for his successor.”
