WASHINGTON — Lonnie G. Bunch III, the first Black person to lead the Smithsonian Institution, announced Tuesday that he will retire by the end of 2026 after more than seven years as secretary.
Bunch, a historian who became the Smithsonian’s 14th secretary in June 2019, said he was leaving with “mixed emotions and heartfelt gratitude.” He told news organizations that the decision was personal and not prompted by recent pressure from the Trump administration over how Smithsonian museums present American history.
His departure will close a landmark chapter for the world’s largest museum, education and research complex. Before becoming secretary, Bunch served as the founding director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, leading the decades-long effort to build the museum and open it on the National Mall in 2016.
The museum’s collections and exhibitions document slavery, Reconstruction, segregation, the civil-rights movement, Black achievement and the continuing influence of African American culture. Its creation established Bunch as one of the country’s most prominent public historians.
Bunch’s retirement comes during a dispute over the Smithsonian’s independence and its presentation of difficult chapters in U.S. history. President Donald Trump and administration officials have criticized some museum exhibits as divisive and have called for a greater emphasis on patriotism and national achievement.
The White House has also reviewed exhibits and materials at several museums, including the National Museum of American History and the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Bunch has defended the Smithsonian’s responsibility to present a broad, evidence-based account of the nation’s past.
In interviews Tuesday, Bunch said recent months had been demanding but maintained that political pressure was not the reason for his retirement. He said he plans to continue defending the institution’s work until his departure.
Chief Justice John Roberts, who serves as chancellor of the Smithsonian’s Board of Regents, praised Bunch’s leadership. The board will oversee the process of selecting an acting secretary and conducting a national search for a permanent successor.
Bunch’s nearly four decades of work with the Smithsonian reshaped how the institution tells America’s story—particularly the central role of Black Americans in the country’s development. His successor will inherit both that legacy and an ongoing debate over who controls the historical narratives presented in publicly supported museums.
Sources: Reuters, Sept. 8, 2026, and the Associated Press, Sept. 8, 2026.
