by Ben Whedon
Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch III on Tuesday announced that he would retire at the end of the war, the Washington Post reported.
His retirement comes amid pressure from the Trump administration, which has worked to revamp many of the Institute’s museums and displays.
In a statement, Bunch (pictured above) said, “It is with very mixed emotions and heartfelt gratitude that I announce my retirement from the Smithsonian,” Bunch said. “I have spent nearly half of my life working at and being part of the Smithsonian family, and what a privilege it has been. There is no place like the Smithsonian—it has been one of the great loves of my life, and I am extraordinarily proud of what we have accomplished together. I leave with pride and sadness, gratitude and joy, and with enormous confidence in the people who will carry this remarkable institution forward.”
In reaction to hearing about Bunch’s retirement, Supreme Court Justice John Roberts said, “From his days as a young curator at the National Air and Space and American History Museums through his tenure as the founding director of the African American History and Culture Museum and culminating in his distinguished service for the past seven years in the Smithsonian’s top job, Secretary Bunch has pursued excellence in the telling of our nation’s story.”
“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,” he added.
Last year, the administration notified the Smithsonian that it would review museum exhibits ahead of the 250th anniversary of the United States.
“This initiative aims to ensure alignment with the president’s directive to celebrate American exceptionalism, remove divisive or partisan narratives, and restore confidence in our shared cultural institutions,” read a letter sent to Bunch at the time.
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Ben Whedon is a reporter for Just the News. Zachery Schmidt is the digital editor of The Star News Network and contributed to this story.
