Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch will retire by year’s end, ending his seven-year tenure atop the nation’s museum and research institution.
Bunch, 73, announced his departure after 38 years working within the Smithsonian system.
His exit comes during an escalating confrontation between Smithsonian leaders and Trump’s administration over historical interpretation and institutional control.
Bunch said, “I have fought for as long as I can,” while confirming his retirement.
Bunch added, “I love this country, and I love the Smithsonian,” and pledged support for America’s “more perfect Union.”
President Trump and his administration have been pressing the Smithsonian to eliminate DEI programs and what the White House describes as “improper, divisive, or anti-American ideology.”
His formal retirement statement did not blame the White House or directly cite the administration’s pressure campaign.
He separately told The Washington Post that the Trump administration played no role in his decision to leave.
Bunch said he had contemplated retirement for about a year before deciding family should receive more time.
Trump signed a March 2025 executive order directing officials to remove what the administration called “improper ideology” from Smithsonian institutions.
The order tasked Vice President JD Vance, a Smithsonian regent, with helping advance the administration’s stated historical priorities.
In July, the White House released a report accusing Smithsonian leadership of promoting political activism through museum exhibits.
The report argued the American History Museum treated the country’s past as a political tool rather than shared inheritance.
After a Domestic Policy Council review, Trump issued another executive order on July 24 directing federal officials to use available legal, funding, and administrative mechanisms to encourage changes at the Smithsonian, particularly the National Museum of American History.
The administration characterizes the disputed material as ideological activism; critics characterize the campaign as political interference that could suppress legitimate presentations of race, gender, and difficult episodes in American history.
Below is the official White House report:
Section 1. Policy. On March 27, 2025, I issued Executive Order 14253 (Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History). Pursuant to that order, the Domestic Policy Council recently completed a months-long review of the Smithsonian Institution and its National Museum of American History (Museum) and issued its findings in the report entitled Saving America’s Story: How Ideological Capture at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History Erases Our Heritage (Report).
The Report demonstrates that the Smithsonian leadership does not present American history as a shared national inheritance to be taught and celebrated, but instead views American history as a “prime tool” to advance ideas of social justice and the radical transformation of our society. The Report also overwhelmingly demonstrates that current leadership of both the Smithsonian Institution and the Museum cannot be trusted to tell America’s story with honesty and gratitude.
It is therefore the policy of my Administration to take all available steps to ensure that the issues identified in the Report are addressed and to restore trust in the Smithsonian Institution.
Sec. 2. Restoring Trust in the Smithsonian Institution. The Secretary of the Interior, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, the Administrator of General Services, and the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy shall identify and utilize any and all available authorities to promote the policy of this order and to restore trust in the Smithsonian Institution, including any mechanisms available to encourage correction of the issues identified in the Report and compliance with any applicable statutes, regulations, executive actions, and funding or contract conditions.
Sec. 3. Warning Visitors About the Ideological Capture at the National Museum of American History. (a) The Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the National Park Service (NPS) and in coordination with the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy, shall install temporary signage along the NPS-maintained sidewalks and walkways used by the public to access the Museum, informing visitors of the findings of the Report and of the policy set forth in section 1 of this order. Such signage shall notify visitors that the Museum exhibits should be renovated consistent with the findings in the Report and direct visitors to locations and resources for accurate information regarding America’s history.
(b) Because the Museum has failed to appropriately honor the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence during this 250th anniversary year of the founding of our country, the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the NPS and in coordination with the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy, shall install temporary exhibits or signage on NPS-maintained sidewalks, walkways, and land used by the public that corrects inaccurate information presented in the Museum.
Sec. 4. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
(d) The costs for publication of this order shall be borne by the Department of the Interior.
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