The Smithsonian Institution’s search for a new secretary is unfolding under mounting pressure from the Trump administration, which has demanded changes to the way the nation’s largest museum and research complex presents American history. Secretary Lonnie Bunch is expected to step down at the end of 2026. His successor will inherit a sprawling institution with museums, educational programs and research centers that serve millions of visitors while operating through a governance structure designed to keep the Smithsonian insulated from control by any single branch of government. Former Smithsonian leaders say that independence will be tested. The next secretary will have to work with political leaders across the ideological spectrum while defending evidence-based research and exhibitions that acknowledge both the nation’s achievements and its history of slavery, racism and other struggles. “The next person has got to have a strong ability to work with very diverse and powerful external audiences,” said Dennis Kelly, who led the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute from 2010 to 2017. He said the secretary must be politically skilled without simply serving one party or ideology. The administration has already targeted the Smithsonian’s approach to history and culture. It has threatened to reduce federal support, ordered content-warning signs outside the National Museum of American History and pushed for a large statue of George Washington to replace a modernist sculpture displayed at the museum for decades. The White House has also criticized the National Museum of American History for what it described as “divisive, race-centered ideology” and “extreme political activism.” Vince Haley, director of the White House Domestic Policy Council, said the administration wants the Smithsonian to move away from an emphasis on social justice and toward what he called an “honest and inspiring account of American history.” Former museum leaders dispute the administration’s characterization. Brent Glass, who directed the American history museum from 2002 to 2011, said its mission should be civic education grounded in scholarship and evidence. “American history has always been about overcoming barriers, and sometimes those barriers are reflecting justice,” Glass said. The Smithsonian’s governance could make a takeover more difficult than at institutions such as the Kennedy Center, where President Donald Trump replaced board members and installed himself as chair. The Smithsonian’s 17-member Board of Regents includes Chief Justice John Roberts, Vice President JD Vance, three members of the U.S. House and three senators from both parties, along with citizen members. Several of the nine citizen seats are vacant or approaching turnover. Two terms are set to expire in October, including one seat whose holder cannot be renominated. Citizen regents are nominated by the board, approved by Congress and signed by the president, giving the administration opportunities to influence the board’s future composition. Two regents renominated for second terms in October 2025 had not yet been approved by Congress, according to Smithsonian records. The institution did not comment on the vacancies. Sen. Gary Peters, a Michigan Democrat and member of the Board of Regents, said the board should continue choosing experienced leaders committed to keeping the Smithsonian independent and nonpartisan. The leadership search comes after other senior officials faced pressure. Kim Sajet resigned as director of the National Portrait Gallery after being targeted by Trump, while Anthea Hartig, director of the National Museum of American History, was called before Congress. The Smithsonian has traditionally selected scholars for its top post. Bunch, who holds a doctorate in American and African American history, previously founded and led the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Louise Mirrer, president and chief executive of the New-York Historical, praised Bunch’s efforts to present an honest history that includes the struggles of different groups pursuing the nation’s stated ideals. Glass said the next secretary should bring intellectual curiosity, familiarity with academic scholarship and a commitment to evidence rather than a political agenda. Kelly compared the current moment with earlier periods when Smithsonian leaders worked with federal agencies on issues such as international conservation and panda diplomacy. He said past dealings with the Obama administration were “quiet and professional,” while the current administration appears to want a more direct role in exhibition content. “This feels different in that the administration wants to have a much more direct say in the content,” Kelly said. “That’s got to be very difficult to manage.” The Smithsonian, established in 1846, has long-term responsibilities that extend beyond any presidential administration. Glass said the Board of Regents should select a leader who can protect that institutional continuity while navigating the immediate political conflict. “The Smithsonian is in the forever business,” Glass said.