Smithsonian launches search for new secretary amid political pressure
Select a version of the text written from a presumed ideological perspective. This is not the original text, but a hypothetical version — how someone with that viewpoint might have phrased it. Tapping the current version again will return to the original or select cleaned version.
The Smithsonian Institution is beginning a nationwide search for a new secretary as the agency faces heightened political scrutiny and vacancies on its governing board.
The Smithsonian Institution will start a nationwide search for a new secretary after longtime leader Lonnie Bunch III announced his retirement at the end of 2026. The transition comes as the museum faces increased political scrutiny from the Trump administration, which has ordered signs to be placed outside the National Museum of American History to address what it calls inaccurate or "woke" content.
A source close to the Board of Regents said potential candidates will need not only museum management experience but also the ability to navigate political pressure from the White House and Congress. "It might be very hard for people who might want this job, it’s not a simple task to find someone on the outside to leave their current role at a time like now," the source said.
The Board of Regents, which selects the secretary, currently has three vacancies and three members whose terms end on Oct. 2. Although the board has submitted names for replacement regents, the White House has not responded, leaving the appointments stalled. The board includes several political officeholders, including Vice President JD Vance and six members of Congress, prompting concerns that the administration could influence the institution’s governance.
President Trump’s executive order on "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History" directed a review of Smithsonian exhibits, and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum announced plans to install temporary signs costing about $84,000 to provide what the administration calls "important context" on topics such as immigration, gender identity and race. Burgum wrote that the public "deserves to know" this information before entering the museum.
Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, who has served as Smithsonian chancellor since 2005, opened a recent board meeting with remarks praising Bunch’s service and expressed a commitment to a smooth transition. Sources said Roberts is expected to work behind the scenes to ensure the selection process follows established procedures while avoiding direct involvement that could lead to litigation.
The search for a new secretary is viewed as one of the most consequential leadership decisions for the Smithsonian in decades, given the institution’s cultural significance and the current political environment.