The Institution's Independence at Stake: A Cautionary Tale of Politicization The retirement of Lonnie Bunch III, secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, marks a significant departure from the institution.
Bunch's impending exit serves as a stark reminder of the perils of politicizing America's most revered cultural institutions.
The tension between Bunch and President Trump has been palpable since the president's 2025 executive order, which accused the museum of promoting "divisive, race centered ideology.