Secretary’s message to Smithsonian staff From Lonnie Bunch (March 28, 2025)

“As an Institution, our commitment to scholarship and research is unwavering and will always serve as the guiding light for our content. Late yesterday, the White House issued a presidential Executive Order (EO) related to cultural institutions including the Smithsonian. The EO directs Vice President Vance, in his role as an ex-officio Smithsonian Regent, to work with our Board of Regents on issues related to content.We remain steadfast in our mission to bring history, science, education, research, and the arts to all Americans. We will continue to showcase world-class exhibits, collections, and objects, rooted in expertise and accuracy. We will continue to employ our internal review processes which keep us accountable to the public. When we err, we adjust, pivot, and learn as needed. As always, our work will be shaped by the best scholarship, free of partisanship, to help the American public better understand our nation’s history, challenges, and triumphs.”

Sincerely,

Lonnie Bunch

Lonnie G. Bunch III | Secretary