Lonnie G. Bunch III’s announcement that he will step down as secretary of the Smithsonian Institution sets the stage for a significant transition at the world’s largest museum and research complex. Bunch, who has led the Smithsonian since 2019, is expected to remain through the end of the year. His departure presents President Donald Trump with an opportunity to influence the institution’s direction, following a period of tension between the White House and the Smithsonian.
The Smithsonian, established by Congress in 1846 through the bequest of British scientist James Smithson, comprises 21 museums, libraries, research centers, and the National Zoo, many located along the National Mall in Washington. The institution has long operated with organizational independence from the executive branch, governed by a 17-member Board of Regents responsible for defining its mission, policies, and finances. This board also selects the secretary who leads the Smithsonian.
The Board of Regents includes key government figures—the vice president, the chief justice of the United States, and six members of Congress (three each from the House and Senate)—alongside nine private citizens appointed through a process requiring congressional confirmation and presidential approval. Members serve staggered six-year terms, with a limit of two consecutive terms.
Currently, the board faces vacancies and expiring appointments: three seats have been open since April, and three more terms will lapse by October. Normally, the nomination and confirmation process for new members proceeds without political conflict. However, recent nominations have stalled before reaching Congress amid indications that Vice President JD Vance has delayed advancing candidates. Two sources, speaking anonymously, have explained this delay as part of Trump’s effort to appoint individuals sympathetic to his administration’s views and priorities.
This effort aligns with an executive order Trump issued in March 2025, in which he criticized the Smithsonian for promoting a “divisive, race-centered ideology” and called for the institution to be returned to what he described as its proper role celebrating “American greatness.” The order directed Vice President Vance to collaborate with Republican congressional leaders to recommend board members committed to implementing this vision.
The Smithsonian’s selection of a new secretary typically involves a search committee and outside consulting firms. When Bunch was selected in 2019, an 11-person committee chaired by then-Board of Regents chairman David Rubenstein conducted the search. Bunch’s appointment was notable as the first time in 74 years that a museum director, rather than a medical professional or university president, was elevated to lead the institution. He brought experience as the founding director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture and prior roles at the National Museum of American History.
Previous leaders included David J. Skorton, a cardiologist and university president, who took over from G. Wayne Clough, another former academic administrator.
As the Smithsonian begins the search for Bunch’s successor, the institution has not released any names of prospective candidates. In a statement following Bunch’s resignation announcement, officials said the board will appoint an acting secretary and commence a national search in due course. The process unfolds amid heightened political scrutiny and efforts by the administration to shape the Smithsonian's future trajectory.