Kim Sajet’s Departure
Kim Sajet is stepping down from her position as director of the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery, even as the network of museums disputed President Donald Trump’s announcement he was terminating her last month.
“We thank Kim for her service. Her decision to put the museum first is to be applauded and appreciated. I know this was not an easy decision. She put the needs of the Institution above her own, and for that we thank her,” Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III wrote in an email sent to employees, which was shared with POLITICO.
Transition in Leadership
Kevin Gover, undersecretary for museums and culture, has replaced Sajet as acting director of the museum. The New York Times first reported Sajet’s departure.
Trump announced his attempt to fire Sajet in a Truth Social post on May 30, referring to the director as “highly partisan person, and a strong supporter of DEI, which is totally inappropriate for her position.”
But whether the president had the authority to remove Sajet was unclear — and the Smithsonian, an independent organization created by Congress, disputed that he did.
Political Influence
Trump — and the Department of Government Efficiency — has sought to influence or take over independent organizations with ties to the government, including the U.S. Institute for Peace.
Sajet’s departure comes days after the Smithsonian released a statement reiterating the institution’s position as an independent entity and maintaining control over personnel decisions. The statement did not name Sajet or mention the Trump administration directly.
Institutional Independence
“The Board of Regents is committed to ensuring that the Smithsonian is a beacon of scholarship free from political or partisan influence, and we recognize that our institution can and must do more to further these foundational values,” the statement, released Monday, reads.
The Smithsonian has been subject to mounting pressure from the administration. Trump signed an executive order in March that seeks to “remove improper ideology” from Smithsonian-affiliated institutions, including barring exhibits or programs that “degrade shared American values, divide Americans based on race, or promote programs or ideologies inconsistent with Federal law and policy.”
Legacy of Leadership
Sajet was the museum’s first woman director, leading the institution for 12 years.
“It has been the honor of a lifetime to lead the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery. This was not an easy decision, but I believe it is the right one,” Sajet wrote in a statement shared with POLITICO. “From the very beginning, my guiding principle has been to put the museum first. Today, I believe that stepping aside is the best way to serve the institution I hold so deeply in my heart.”
