Lonnie Bunch Announces Retirement as Smithsonian Secretary After 38 Years

Lonnie G. Bunch III, the transformative historian who oversaw the creation of the National Museum of African American History and Culture and later became the first Black secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, announced Tuesday that he will step down by the end of the year. The departure caps an extraordinary 38-year tenure across the expansive museum and research complex, arriving at a time when the venerable institution faces profound political scrutiny. Bunch, 73, leaves behind a legacy as one of the most consequential leaders in the 180-year history of the Smithsonian.

A Historic and Expansive Legacy

Bunch’s influence on the American cultural landscape is difficult to overstate. After beginning his Smithsonian career in 1978 as an education specialist at the National Air and Space Museum, he ascended through curatorial roles to eventually spearhead the National Museum of African American History and Culture as its founding director. The museum, which opened on the National Mall in 2016, stands as a crowning achievement of his early executive career.

In 2019, the Smithsonian Board of Regents named Bunch the 14th Secretary of the institution, marking him as the first African American and the first historian to hold the top post. Under his leadership, the Smithsonian expanded its digital footprint, navigated the unprecedented closures of a global pandemic, and advanced preliminary plans for new museums dedicated to Latino and women’s history.

In a heartfelt letter to Smithsonian staff, Bunch reflected on his journey.

"I have spent nearly half of my life working at the Smithsonian and being part of the Smithsonian family,"

he wrote.

"Right alongside my family and the New York Yankees, the Smithsonian has been one of the great loves of my life."

Navigating Political Tensions

The announcement arrives amid a politically fraught chapter for the federally funded, semi-independent institution. Since the beginning of President Donald Trump’s second term in 2025, the administration has actively pushed to reshape how the Smithsonian portrays American history, launching reviews into its exhibitions, internal operations, and funding mechanisms.

While Bunch emphasized to reporters that his retirement was a personal decision, he acknowledged the mounting pressure, noting that the role has been inherently stressful. In his official statement to the institution, Bunch affirmed his commitment to the organization's ongoing mission, stating his next chapter will allow him to "continue to protect the integrity of the Smithsonian and to champion the importance of a history that illuminates and celebrates the complex story of our nation."

The Search for a Successor

The responsibility of selecting the 15th Secretary now falls to the Smithsonian’s Board of Regents, a governing body that includes Chief Justice John Roberts and Vice President JD Vance. The impending leadership transition will undoubtedly be heavily scrutinized as political factions vie for influence over the nation’s preeminent historical and scientific authority, according to The DC Line.

Chief Justice Roberts, who serves as chancellor of the Smithsonian, praised the outgoing secretary's legacy, stating,

"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."

Editorial Takeaway

Bunch’s departure is more than the retirement of a beloved institutional stalwart; it marks the end of an era defined by a tireless commitment to an unvarnished, inclusive recounting of the American story. As the Board of Regents looks to the future, the selection of the 15th secretary will serve as a profound test of the Smithsonian’s independence, setting a critical precedent for how the nation curates its collective memory in an increasingly fractured political landscape.