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September 8, 2026

Lonnie Bunch Announces Retirement as Smithsonian Secretary Amid Trump Administration Criticism

  • Lonnie Bunch, the first Black secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, will retire at the end of the year after a turbulent tenure marked by criticism from the Trump administration.
  • A recent White House report described Smithsonian officials as untrustworthy and accused them of failing to present American history in a unifying way.
  • Bunch rejected the report's characterization and expressed mixed emotions about his departure, emphasizing his pride in the institution.

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