Supreme Court worried letting Trump fire Lisa Cook jeopardizes Fed independence

Published January 21, 2026 2:50pm ET



The Supreme Court appeared concerned on Wednesday that President Donald Trump‘s bid to fire Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook could water down removal protections for members of the Fed, essentially making them fireable at will.

During arguments in the emergency docket case Trump v. Cook, multiple justices appeared skeptical about Solicitor General D. John Sauer’s assertion that the president’s removal of Cook for cause is largely unreviewable by courts and that she cannot be reinstated by the judiciary.

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