Lonnie G. Bunch III, secretary of the Smithsonian Institution and founding director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, is confronting the most pointed political challenge of his tenure.
On the heels of a recent executive order signed by President Donald Trump that accused the Smithsonian of promoting divisive ideologies and called for an end to exhibitions and programs that “degrade shared American values” or “divide Americans by race,” Bunch and the Smithsonian now stand at a politically fraught crossroads.
Speaking to the New York Times this week, Steven Cheung, the White House’s communications director, said, “Lonnie Bunch is a Democrat donor and rabid partisan who manufactured lies out of thin air in order to boost sales of his miserable book. Fortunately, he, along with his garbage book, are complete failures.”
Last week, Bunch sent an internal memo to Smithsonian staff saying that, despite pressure from the White House, the Institution would “remain steadfast in our mission to bring history, science, education, research, and the arts to all Americans” and would operate “free of partisanship.”
Though the Smithsonian is run independently and is overseen by a bipartisan Board of Regents, the executive order has raised concerns about political interference and potential funding threats. Roughly 62 percent of the institution’s $1 billion annual budget comes from federal sources, leaving it vulnerable to congressional pressure.
According to the New York Times, Bunch, a seasoned historian and registered Democrat, has long walked a careful line—building consensus across political divides while advancing conversations around race, history, and national identity. But the tone from the White House has grown sharply antagonistic.
Behind the scenes, Bunch’s future remains uncertain. At 72 and six years into the role, there’s a possibility he could step down on his own terms. But the administration’s pressure campaign could hasten that decision.
Throughout his tenure, Bunch has maintained a focus on institutional integrity. In that same memo last week, Bunch reaffirmed the Smithsonian’s mission to tell “multi-faceted stories” rooted in “expertise and accuracy.” Whether he remains at the helm or chooses to depart, Bunch’s legacy—particularly the creation of the African American museum—is likely to shape the institution for decades to come.
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