2026-09-08T16:17:31.875Z / https://www.cnn.com/2026/09/08/politics/lonnie-bunch-smithsonian
朗尼·邦奇三世宣布将卸任史密森学会主席一职，该职位使他成为唐纳德·特朗普总统重塑全球最大博物馆体系努力的核心人物。
“带着极为复杂的情绪和由衷的感激，我宣布从史密森学会退休，”邦奇在周二的一份声明中说道，并补充道，“我带着自豪与悲伤、感激与喜悦离任，同时对那些将继续推动这座卓越机构向前发展的人们充满信心。”
现年73岁的邦奇在多次采访中表示，他的退休与特朗普政府施压要求对该机构做出调整无关。
但此次退休正值特朗普政府加大对该机构施压之际，包括在8月28日的一封信中称，如果史密森学会领导层不做出改变，联邦机构可能会停止与其合作。这封信援引了此前一份报告，指责史密森学会正“走向极端政治激进主义，试图改变我们的国家”。
美国有线电视新闻网（CNN）已联系白宫置评。
“邦奇主席在讲述我们国家的故事方面追求卓越，”同样担任史密森学会名誉校长的最高法院首席大法官约翰·罗伯茨在一份声明中表示，并补充道，“我们期待在未来几个月与他合作，确保其继任者的交接工作顺利进行。”
邦奇自2019年起担任该职务，在政府的严密审查和试图控制这座拥有180年历史的机构展览内容的过程中，他一直捍卫该组织的独立性。不过，他也在政治红线间小心翼翼地游走，遵从白宫要求提交有关博物馆展览的大量文件的指令。
在7月接受CNN记者克里斯汀·阿曼普尔采访时，邦奇表示：“我们的职责是讲述准确、复杂且真实的历史。”
但特朗普对史密森学会讲述历史的方式提出了批评，称其为“觉醒意识形态”的产物，并指派助手铲除他认为在博物馆中存在的美国历史“重写”行为。例如，在7月的一项行政命令中，总统指示国家公园管理局在史密森学会国家美国历史博物馆附近设置临时标识，警告存在“不准确信息”。
曾就特朗普政府对华盛顿的调整提起多起诉讼的律师格雷格·沃克海瑟在一份声明中表示，邦奇的离职应引发担忧。
“无论用何种语言描述他的离任，这都发生在对史密森学会及其领导层施加非同寻常的政治压力之后，”沃克海瑟说道，“此处的损失不止一位卓越的公职人员。每当政治权力被用来威胁那些负责讲述我们国家历史的人，如果他们如实讲述历史就会丢掉工作，美国人都应深感担忧。”
史密森学会理事会将选出下一任主席。除罗伯茨外，理事会成员还包括副总统J·D·万斯以及共和党和民主党议员。理事会中也有部分公众成员，特朗普去年签署一项行政命令，指示万斯任命符合其对该机构优先事项的公众成员。
根据史密森学会网站上的任期图表，九名公众理事中有两人的任期已届满，另外两个职位将在10月初空缺。这可能给特朗普提供机会，在11月中期选举改组国会之前，扩大其对理事会的影响力。新理事会成员需通过国会联合决议任命，并由总统签署生效。
在担任主席之前，邦奇曾担任史密森学会国家非裔美国人历史和文化博物馆馆长近14年，带领该项目从最初的构想阶段推进至2016年正式开放。
他自1978年首次加入该机构以来，曾在学会内多个博物馆任职。他曾短暂离职，担任芝加哥历史学会主席。
邦奇在史密森学会的工作广受认可，曾因对美国文化和历史的贡献获得多项奖项。
本文已更新补充更多信息。
CNN的勒内·马什、派珀·赫德斯皮思·布莱克本、布赖恩·托德、迈克尔·威廉姆斯、贝齐·克莱因和基特·马赫为本报道撰稿。
Smithsonian head Lonnie Bunch to retire amid Trump administration effort to reshape institution
2026-09-08T16:17:31.875Z / https://www.cnn.com/2026/09/08/politics/lonnie-bunch-smithsonian
Lonnie Bunch III said he will retire as the head of the Smithsonian Institution, a role that placed him at the center of President Donald Trump’s efforts to reshape the world’s largest museum organization.
“It is with very mixed emotions and heartfelt gratitude that I announce my retirement from the Smithsonian,” Bunch said in a statement on Tuesday, adding, “I leave with pride and sadness, gratitude and joy, and with enormous confidence in the people who will carry this remarkable institution forward.”
Bunch, 73, said in multiple interviews that his retirement was not related to pressure from the Trump administration to make changes to the institution.
It still comes as the Trump administration has increased pressure on the institution, including saying in an August 28 letter that federal agencies may stop working with the Smithsonian if its leadership does not change. The letter cited an earlier report that accused the Smithsonian of moving “toward an extreme political activism that seeks to transform our country.”
CNN has reached out to the White House for comment.
“Secretary Bunch has pursued excellence in the telling of our nation’s story,” Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, who is also chancellor of the Smithsonian, said in a statement, adding, “We look forward to working with him in the coming months to ensure a smooth transition for his successor.”
Bunch, who has been in the role since 2019, had defended the organization’s independence amid the administration’s intense scrutiny and efforts to assert control over the 180-year-old institution’s content. However, he has also tread a fine political line, complying with the White House’s request to hand over extensive documents about museum exhibitions.
In a July interview with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, Bunch said, “It’s our job to tell an accurate, complex and truthful history.”
However, Trump has taken issue with the Smithsonian’s telling of the past, describing it as “woke” and tasking aides with rooting out what he considers a rewriting of American history at the museums. For example, in a July executive order, the president directed the National Park Service to install temporary signage near the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, warning of “inaccurate information.”
Greg Werkheiser, an attorney involved in multiple lawsuits against the Trump administration over the president’s changes to Washington, said in a statement that Bunch’s departure should raise concerns.
“Whatever words are used to describe his departure, it comes after an extraordinary campaign of political pressure on the Smithsonian and its leadership,” Werkheiser said. “The loss here is bigger than one extraordinary public servant. Americans should be deeply concerned whenever political power is used to make the people entrusted with telling our nation’s history fear for their jobs if they tell that history honestly.”
The Smithsonian Board of Regents will choose the next secretary. In addition to Roberts, the board’s members include Vice President JD Vance and Republican and Democratic lawmakers. Some members of the public are also part of the board, and Trump signed an executive order last year directing Vance to seek the appointment of public members who are aligned with his priorities for the institution.
Two of nine public regents’ terms have expired and two other spots will open up by the beginning of October, according to a term chart on the Smithsonian website. This could give Trump a chance to try to expand his influence on the board before the November midterm elections shake up Congress. New board members are appointed via congressional joint resolutions that the president must sign into law.
Before becoming secretary, Bunch served as the director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture for nearly 14 years, leading the site from when it was just a concept to its opening in 2016.
He served at multiple museums within the institution since he first joined in 1978. He departed the organization for a few years to serve as the president of the Chicago Historical Society.
Bunch has been widely recognized for his work at the Smithsonian, including by receiving multiple awards for his contributions to American culture and history.
This story has been updated with additional information.
CNN’s René Marsh, Piper Hudspeth Blackburn, Brian Todd, Michael Williams, Betsy Klein and Kit Maher contributed to this report.
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