Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch Announces Retirement Amid Trump Tensions

Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III announced he will step down at the end of this year, concluding his tenure from 2019 to 2026.

Bunch, 73, insists the timing is his own, notwithstanding the immense pressure the administration has applied to the Smithsonian generally and Bunch personally since Donald Trump returned to office last year. He told the New York Times, at a certain point, I’d like to wake up in the morning and not look at their cellphone.

Bunch's retirement follows more than a year of tension with the White House over how U.S. history is presented at the institution. In March 2025, Trump signed an executive order "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History," directing officials to address improper ideology at the Smithsonian. The order accused the Smithsonian of promoting narratives that portrayed American and Western values as inherently harmful and oppressive.

In July, the White House released a report "Saving America’s Story," accusing leadership at the National Museum of American History of allowing ideological concerns to influence its presentation. Bunch pushed back internally on White House criticism, acknowledging room for improvement but arguing the report was not a fair characterization. Chief Justice John Roberts, who serves as the Smithsonian’s chancellor, praised Bunch, stating the Smithsonian benefited greatly from his wisdom, vision and leadership.

A person familiar with the situation told NBC News there was no pressure from the regents for Bunch to resign. Bunch told friends he would have retired a year ago but felt he had to stay to defend the institution. He told friends after seeing Interior Secretary Doug Burgum's letter last week that now was the time to step down.