Powell to attend Supreme Court on Trump bid to fire Lisa Cook
Jerome Powell, chairman of the US Federal Reserve, during the Hoover Institution’s George P. Shultz Memorial Lecture Series in Stanford, California, US, on Monday, Dec. 1, 2025.
Jason Henry | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell is set to attend oral arguments at the Supreme Court in a case challenging President Donald Trump’s authority to fire Fed Governor Lisa Cook, a source told CNBC on Monday.
Powell’s decision to attend comes amidst a criminal investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Washington, D.C., regarding a renovation project at the central bank’s headquarters and his congressional testimony related to the project.
The Associated Press first reported Powell’s plans.
Powell’s personal attendance at such proceedings is uncommon, highlighting the significance of the case’s potential impact on the Fed’s governance.
Concerns over the President’s ability to remove a Fed governor as attempted by Trump are viewed as having far-reaching implications within the central bank.
In a notable public statement on Jan. 11, Powell disclosed the criminal investigation and criticized the motive behind it, attributing it to disagreements over interest rate policies.
“The threat of criminal charges stems from the Fed’s commitment to public service-driven interest rate decisions, rather than bowing to Presidential pressure,” Powell stated.
Trump’s dismissal of Cook from the Fed Board in August, alleging mortgage fraud, has sparked legal battles as Cook contests the allegations and challenges her removal.
Cook maintains her innocence and has not faced any criminal charges.
She filed a lawsuit against Trump, resulting in a court order preventing her removal, which was later upheld by an appeals court.
The Department of Justice has criticized the judicial intervention in Cook’s removal, citing it as a breach of the President’s authority to remove Fed Board members.
