Lonnie G. Bunch III will resign as Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution by year’s end, ending a 38-year career at the museum complex amid escalating conflict with the Trump administration over how American history should be presented to the public.
Departure Follows Federal Threats
Bunch announced his retirement Tuesday following a letter from the Interior Department threatening to cut federal support to the Smithsonian. The department accused museum facilities of promoting radical ideology that undermines shared American identity. The resignation comes at a precarious moment for the institution, which oversees dozens of museums, research centers, libraries, and the National Zoo. Bunch became Secretary in 2019, making history as the first Black person and first historian to lead the organization.
A person familiar with the situation told NBC News that Bunch faced no pressure from the Board of Regents to step down. Instead, Bunch had planned to retire a year earlier but stayed to defend the institution from White House criticism. After receiving last week’s letter from Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Bunch determined the time had arrived to depart and assist in transitioning to new leadership.
Trump Administration Takes Aim at Museums
President Donald Trump issued an executive order in March 2025 directing Vice President JD Vance to eliminate what the administration termed improper and divisive ideology from Smithsonian programs. The order claimed the once-respected institution had fallen under the influence of race-centered ideology promoting narratives that portray American and Western values as harmful. Vance, who serves on the Smithsonian Board of Regents due to his vice presidential position, criticized Bunch’s leadership at a regents meeting several months ago.
Trump amplified his criticism last August on social media, complaining that museums focus excessively on slavery rather than American success and brightness. He announced his attorneys would review Smithsonian museums, writing that the institution discusses only how horrible the country is rather than celebrating achievement and the future.
Legacy and Transition Plans
Chief Justice John Roberts, serving as Smithsonian Chancellor, praised Bunch’s career spanning from young curator at Air and Space and American History Museums through founding director of the African American History and Culture Museum. The Board of Regents is forming a search committee and considering internal candidates for leadership during the transition. Bunch committed to remaining three or four months to ensure a smooth changeover, expressing mixed emotions about leaving what he called one of the great loves of his life.
