Lonnie G. Bunch III, The First Black Smithsonian Secretary, Steps Down Amid White House Attacks

After months of attacks from President Donald Trump’s administration over the Smithsonian’s integrity and mission, Lonnie G. Bunch III, the institution’s first Black secretary, is stepping down.

Bunch spent much of his career ensuring Black history had a permanent place in the American story. Now, he has announced he’s leaving the Smithsonian at the end of 2026 after nearly eight years leading the institution, according to The Washington Post.

“For, I don’t know, 45 years, work has taken precedence over family, and I just said at 73, enough’s enough,” Bunch told the outlet. “There’s never a good time, but I think the key is I want to be able to have as many years as I can with the family and the grandkids.”

According to CNN, Bunch said his departure is not a result of Trump’s attacks. Still, his announcement comes against the backdrop of an increasingly aggressive fight with the White House, as we previously reported. The president has pushed the Smithsonian to move away from what he describes as divisive narratives and toward a more celebratory presentation of American history. Supporters say museums should emphasize what unites Americans. However, critics worry that approach could sanitize the country’s history by minimizing slavery, racism and other painful chapters.

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The secretary has generally tried to keep the Smithsonian above partisan politics. But he has also defended the institution’s responsibility to tell history honestly and completely.

In an internal letter obtained by ABC News, the secretary responded to Trump’s July 4 report criticizing his leadership.

“While there will always be room for improvement, this report is not a fair characterization of the work and totality of the National Museum of American History,” Bunch said. “At the Smithsonian, our work is driven by scholarship, accuracy, and an uncompromising commitment to tell the fullness of America’s story.… As public servants and the keepers of this institution, we are charged with helping a nation find understanding, hope, and clarity and as part of that duty, we are dedicated to excellence, reflection, and growth.”

Before becoming secretary, Bunch founded the National Museum of African American History and Culture, helping turn the long-discussed project into one of the Smithsonian’s most prominent museums, with over 1.4 million visitors in 2025.

Bunch’s legacy is inseparable from that work. The African American history museum he helped create gave millions of visitors a place where stories that were once pushed to the margins became central to the national narrative. The Smithsonian has now become one of the nation’s most visible institutions for confronting the history of slavery, segregation, racism and Black achievement.

Bunch’s resignation means the fight for representation could be more critical for Black Americans. The country continues to debate whether difficult chapters of its past should be confronted, softened or pushed aside. Now, it will be up to new leadership to fight for a fuller version of American history–one that does not separate the country’s achievements from the people who were excluded from them.