Trump’s Bid to Fire Fed Governor Sparks Supreme Court Clash

- Bipartisan economic leaders unite against President Trump’s effort to oust Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook. - Experts warn of economic turmoil if Fed independence erodes. In an unprecedented bipartisan stand, 18 former top economists urged the Supreme Court to block President Donald Trump’s attempt to fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook. This group includes three living former Federal Reserve chairs. Their historic defense of the Federal Reserve’s independence highlights mounting concerns over political interference in the cornerstone of U.S. monetary stability. On September 25, 2025, CoinDesk reported that President Trump seeks to dismiss Cook, an appointee of former President Joe Biden, based on unproven allegations of mortgage fraud first made by Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte. However, Cook has adamantly denied any wrongdoing, and no charges have been filed. The unprecedented legal filing included signatures from former Federal Reserve chairs Alan Greenspan, Ben Bernanke, and Janet Yellen, as well as former Treasury Secretaries Henry Paulson, Timothy Geithner, Robert Rubin, Jacob Lew, and Lawrence Summers. These officials warned that removing Cook would undermine the Federal Reserve’s independence and jeopardize its role in setting monetary policy free from partisan pressure, arguing that politicizing the central bank could harm long-term economic performance and erode public confidence. This marks the first time in U.S. history that a sitting president has sought to fire a Federal Reserve governor. Although two lower courts have already blocked Cook’s removal, the Trump administration escalated the dispute to the Supreme Court, with Solicitor General John Sauer filing an emergency appeal on its behalf. The Supreme Court is now reviewing the case, and Governor Cook has until Thursday evening to respond to the administration’s appeal. Meanwhile, fears persist over the broader implications for the Federal Reserve’s neutrality, as Trump’s public calls for more aggressive interest rate cuts have raised concerns about undue executive influence on economic decisions.