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What challenges did Lonnie Bunch face as Smithsonian director?

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During the COVID-19 pandemic, Lonnie Bunch had to close the Smithsonian museums twice and focused on balancing tradition with innovation to maintain their relevance. During the second administration of Pres. Donald Trump, Bunch worked to uphold the Smithsonian’s commitment to fairness, equity, and nonpartisanship amid political challenges, including executive orders aimed at diversity and personnel decisions at the institution.