The Smithsonian's Sacrificial Lamb: Lonnie Bunch's Resignation is a Warning Sign for Free Institutions The news of Lonnie Bunch's resignation as Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution amid attacks from the Trump administration should send shivers down the spines of anyone who cares about the integrity of our cultural institutions.
What's striking, however, isn't just the vitriol directed at Dr. Bunch and his team; it's the quiet dismantling of a long standing tradition of independence, one executive order at a time.
The attacks on the Smithsonian have been brewing for years but reached a fever pitch in 2025 with the release of a scathing report from the White House Domestic Policy Council.