Supreme Court limits Trump’s removal power over Fed governor, expands authority over other agencies
The U. S. Supreme Court, in a 5-4 ruling reported by CNN, blocked President Donald J. Trump’s effort to dismiss Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, citing the central bank’s independence.
AP News noted that the Court allowed Governor Cook to remain on the board while she pursues a lawsuit challenging the administration’s allegations of mortgage-fraud violations. The Guardian similarly reported that the justices said the president lacked constitutional authority to fire her without due process. Later, the Court issued a separate opinion, described by The Guardian, overturning a decades-old precedent and granting presidents the power to remove leaders of most independent agencies at will. The New York Times added that the ruling preserved the Federal Reserve’s special status, requiring cause and an opportunity to contest allegations before a governor can be removed.