Monday's decision by the Federal Reserve's top bank regulator to step down from his job — but not from the Fed entirely — is simultaneously less and more than meets the eye. Why it matters: Michael Barr's self-demotion clears the way for President-elect Trump to appoint a vice chair for supervision.

Michael Barr, the Federal Reserve's top regulatory cop, said he will step down on Feb. 28, in a surprise move that will avert a potentially messy legal fight with President-elect Donald Trump who is now free to replace him with an official of his choosing.

Michael Barr, vice chair for supervision for the Federal Reserve and the leader of the U.S. effort behind the so-called Basel III endgame proposal to lift capital requirements for banks, said he would step down by Feb. 28, or sooner if a successor is named.