Smithsonian secretary earned $4.4M in salary, benefits since 2020

Smithsonian Institution Secretary Lonnie Bunch III collected more than $4.4 million in salary and added benefits between 2020 and 2024, according to a Fox News Digital review of the Smithsonian’s tax filings. Mr. Bunch has also made diversity, equity, accessibility and inclusion policy central to his tenure. The Smithsonian pays the secretary from private trust funds, making the position exempt from federal executive pay caps — though the arrangement could draw scrutiny given that roughly two-thirds of the institution’s overall budget still comes from federal appropriations, according to its own 2025 management report. Mr. Bunch’s compensation, per the Smithsonian’s 990 filings, hit $915,469 in salary plus $74,090 in benefits in 2024, with prior years ranging from $726,156 to $861,379 in salary and up to $68,391 in additional benefits. Mr. Bunch, the Smithsonian’s 14th secretary, has made diversity policy central to his tenure. In a 2019 interview, he described the Smithsonian’s role in elevating contested public debates, saying “we’re really a great legitimizer,” and cited his hope that the institution would help engage issues such as the “1619 Project” and climate change. Mr. Bunch also co-chaired the American Alliance of Museums task force behind a policy framework urging museums to build DEAI requirements into job descriptions and performance reviews “from the board of directors” down to junior staff. In the document, he wrote that “DEAI is integral to excellence in museum practice. FULL STOP.” The compensation disclosure comes as the Smithsonian faces pressure from the Trump administration over its handling of American history. A Domestic Policy Council report alleged the National Museum of American History has undergone “ideological capture,” arguing museum leadership’s own statements show a shift toward “an extreme political activism that seeks to transform our country.” The report focused primarily on NMAH Director Anthea Hartig, who has said she wants history to function as “a prime tool of social justice,” but the White House review also noted that Ms. Hartig reports to Mr. Bunch, whose annual compensation the report cited at more than $989,000. This article was constructed with the assistance of artificial intelligence and published by a member of The Washington Times' AI News Desk team. The contents of this report are based solely on The Washington Times' original reporting, wire services, and/or other sources cited within the report. For more information, please read our AI policy or contact Steve Fink, Director of Artificial Intelligence, at sfink@washingtontimes.com The Washington Times AI Ethics Newsroom Committee can be reached at aispotlight@washingtontimes.com.