Durbin Statement On Lonnie Bunch’s Retirement From The Smithsonian After 38 Years Of Service

September 08, 2026 Durbin Statement On Lonnie Bunch’s Retirement From The Smithsonian After 38 Years Of Service Durbin and Bunch first met in the early 2000s while Bunch served as president of the Chicago Historical Society SPRINGFIELD – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement regarding Lonnie G. Bunch III’s announcement that he will be retiring from his position as Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution at the end of the year: “Our nation’s historical and cultural institutions are better because of the leadership of Lonnie Bunch, whom I’ve proudly called a friend since his time leading the Chicago Historical Society. The caliber of his many remarkable accomplishments—establishing the National Museum of African American History and Culture, personally securing historically significant artifacts like the Greensboro Lunch Counter for the Smithsonian, and leading the Smithsonian through a global pandemic—are a reflection of his dedication to justly, and accurately, preserving and making accessible our nation’s history. “While Lonnie will step down at the end of the year, no Administration or President will ever be able to erase his legacy—one that deserves its own plaque in the halls of a Smithsonian.” Prior to becoming the Secretary of the Smithsonian in 2019, Bunch served in several curatorial and leadership positions at the National Air and Space Museum, the National Museum of History, and the Chicago Historical Society. After his stint as president of the Chicago Historical Society, he returned to the Smithsonian in 2005 to lead the establishment of the National Museum of African American History and Culture. In total, Bunch dedicated nearly 38 years of his career to supporting the Smithsonian Institution. -30- Print Email Share Tweet