FIRST ON FOX: Lonnie Bunch III, the Smithsonian Institution secretary who called DEI an "integral to excellence in museum practice," raked in over $4.4 million from 2020-2024 in base salary and added benefits, a Fox News Digital review found.While the Smithsonian funds executive compensation through private trust revenues to comply with federal pay caps, the high-dollar package could draw fresh scrutiny because federal taxpayers still fund roughly 60% of the institution's overall budget.During his tenure, Bunch has championed a sweeping transformation of the institution's cultural footprint, stating during a 2019 interview with the Smithsonian Magazine that he wanted the Smithsonian to make "diversity and inclusion so central that it’s no longer talked about.""We call ourselves the Great Convener, but we’re really a great legitimizer.And I want the Smithsonian to legitimize important issues, whether it’s 1619 or climate change," Bunch said, referring to the controversial 1619 Project that has been repeatedly slammed for "egregious errors" by scholars.
"We help people think about what’s important, what they should debate, what they should embrace."FORMER DEMOCRATIC STAFFERS, DEI LEADERS SHAPE SMITHSONIAN LEADERSHIP AMID POLITICAL FIRESTORMSecretary of the Smithsonian Institution Lonnie Bunch listens during an event at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History on February 20, 2026 in Washington, D.C.Mrs.
Trump donated her second inaugural dress to the museum, which was designed by fashion designer Herve Pierre, who also designed her first inauguration dress.(Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)"Everybody that thought about the 1619 Project, whether they liked it or disagreed with it, saw that the Smithsonian had fingerprints on it.
And that to me was a great victory," he added.As secretary, Bunch reports to the organization’s board of regents and oversees the Smithsonian’s 21 museums, 21 libraries, the National Zoo and several research centers.Withi...