Kim Sajet, the director of the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery, said Friday she is stepping down two weeks after President Donald Trump attempted to fire her.
The Smithsonian Institution reiterated this week that it retains legal authority over personnel, as it has long acted independently from the executive branch. Sajet did not mention the president or his remarks about her in her statement of resignation.
“This was not an easy decision, but I believe it is the right one,” she said, according to a memo obtained by the New York Times. “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.”
In a note to staff, Lonnie G. Bunch III, the Smithsonian’s secretary, thanked Sajet for her service.
“She put the needs of the Institution above her own, and for that we thank her,” Bunch wrote.
Trump claimed Sajet is “a highly partisan person, and a strong supporter of DEI” in a Truth Social post announcing her attempted firing in May. In March, Trump signed an executive order to “remove improper ideology” from Smithsonian institutions.
The Smithsonian, an independent organization created by Congress, disputed that the president had the authority to fire its employees.
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“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,” a statement from the Smithsonian released Monday read.
Sajet was the first woman to lead the institution and served in the role for over 12 years. In the meantime, Kevin Gover, the Smithsonian’s undersecretary for museums and culture, will serve as acting director of the National Portrait Gallery.