The Smithsonian's Future Hangs in the Balance: Lonnie Bunch's Retirement and the Trump Administration's Impact As Lonnie Bunch prepares to step down as director of the Smithsonian Institution, the nation's largest museum and research complex is bracing for a period of transition.
His retirement coincides with a new wave of controversy surrounding the institution, thanks in part to the Trump administration's criticism of its perceived liberal bias.
The Trump administration has long been critical of institutions it perceives as being out of touch with conservative values.