Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III said Tuesday he will retire at the end of the year, after an August 28 letter said federal agencies may stop working with the Smithsonian if its leadership does not change.
The letter cited a report accusing the institution of moving “toward an extreme political activism that seeks to transform our country.” The Smithsonian includes 21 museums, research centers, and the National Zoo. About two-thirds of its funding comes from the federal government. The Board of Regents is expected to name an acting chief.
The announcement comes as the Trump administration has pressed the Smithsonian over how it presents American history. A March executive order called for removing “improper ideology.” Trump has said the Smithsonian is “OUT OF CONTROL” and criticized its focus on “how bad slavery was.”
