Smithsonian chief to retire after clashes with White House

Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch announced he will retire later this year following clashes with the White House. Why it matters: Bunch's departure leaves the Smithsonian facing a leadership transition as the Trump administration escalates efforts to reshape how the institution presents American history. Driving the news: Bunch will step down by the end of the year after nearly 38 years at the Smithsonian, the institution said Tuesday. "It is time for my next chapter, a chapter that will allow me to continue to protect the integrity of the Smithsonian and to champion the importance of a history that illuminates and celebrates the complex story of our nation," Bunch said. Flashback: Bunch pushed back against a White House review of the Smithsonian in a July message to staff, saying the report was "not a fair characterization" of the National Museum of American History. He said the Smithsonian remained committed to "scholarship, nonpartisanship, independence, accuracy, and integrity." What's next: The Smithsonian's Board of Regents will name an acting secretary and launch a national search for Bunch's successor.