The Smithsonian Institution on Monday emphasized its “nonpartisan stature” and said “all personnel decisions” are made by its secretary more than a week after President Donald Trump said he would remove the director of the National Portrait Gallery.

The Smithsonian Institution late Monday issued its own declaration of independence, saying authority over its staff lies with Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch. The move follows President Trump's assertion that he was firing Kim Sajet.

In defiance of Trump’s announcement last Friday that he was firing her, Kim Sajet — the director of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Portrait Gallery — has continued to report for work, conducting meetings and handling other museum business as she did before,