Smithsonian head retires as Trump admin pushed to restore 'American excellence' to institution

Lonnie Bunch III announced on Tuesday that he will be retiring from his role as the 14th Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution at the end of the year. This comes as the institution has faced criticism from the Trump administration.

Bunch said in a statement on Tuesday, “It is with very mixed emotions and heartfelt gratitude that I announce my retirement from 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. 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. I leave with pride and sadness, gratitude and joy, and with enormous confidence in the people who will carry this remarkable institution forward.”

Bunch has worked at the Smithsonian for around 38 years and became the institution’s Secretary in June of 2019. Bunch notified Smithsonian Chancellor and Chief Justice of the United States John Roberts of the decision. 

Roberts said 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. 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.”

A few months into returning to office, President Trump signed an executive order ordering that “improper ideology” be removed from institutions such as the Smithsonian. The order stated, “Once widely respected as a symbol of American excellence and a global icon of cultural achievement, the Smithsonian Institution has, in recent years, come under the influence of a divisive, race-centered ideology. This shift has promoted narratives that portray American and Western values as inherently harmful and oppressive.”

In August of that year, the administration launched an internal review of Smithsonian museums and exhibits with the aim to “ensure alignment with the President’s directive to celebrate American exceptionalism, remove divisive or partisan narratives, and restore confidence in our shared cultural institutions.” The first phase of the review focused on eight museums, including the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, and the National Museum of American History.

Speaking with the New York Times, Bunch said tension with the administration was not what led to his decision to depart. “It was really just saying, now’s the time,” he said. He added of the tensions, “I have to be honest, it has been stressful. And at a certain point, I’d like to wake up in the morning and not look at my cellphone."