THE NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE CALLS FOR PROTECTION OF BLACK HISTORY AS LONNIE BUNCH LEAVES THE SMITHSONIAN AFTER INCREASED WHITE HOUSE PRESSURE

NEW YORK (September 8, 2026) — Today, Lonnie Bunch, the first Black person to lead the Smithsonian Institution, stepped down after increased White House pressure and oversight on museum exhibitions. The National Urban League, which is opening the Urban Civil Rights Museum in Harlem this fall, the first civil rights museum in New York, is calling for increased protection of Black history across all institutions. Among his accomplishments, Lonnie Bunch led the development of the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington.

“We’ve seen that time and time again that this administration is abusing its power to contort our history and our institutions to suit their own false narratives,” said Marc H. Morial, President and CEO of the National Urban League. “By pressuring Black leaders to leave institutions, blocking our promotions in the military and across the government, while defending Confederate-era monuments and removing any evidence of resistance from the federal record, this administration is setting a dangerous precedent for future generations. Black history is American history, and it must be defended.”

In July, the administration accused Smithsonian leadership of “extreme political activism” and posted signs outside museums warning of “inaccurate” content. 

This is the latest in the administration's attacks on Black America, following its anti-Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion executive order in 2025 that costs African-American workers over 500,000, according to research in the 2026 State of Black America and Bureau of Labor Statistics data. 

The National Urban League praises Lonnie for his work with the Smithsonian and will continue to fight for accurate reporting of our past so that we do not repeat its mistakes in the future.