- Trump blasted Fed Chair Jerome Powell over interest rates, but legally can’t fire him without cause.
- Powell defended the Fed’s independence, saying removal is only possible through congressional action or legal cause.
- A Supreme Court case pushed by Trump could reshape rules on firing independent agency heads, but its impact on the Fed is unclear.
So, President Trump isn’t exactly thrilled with Jerome Powell right now. After the Fed Chair’s speech in Chicago on April 16, where he sounded the alarm about Trump’s latest round of tariffs possibly pushing prices up and slowing the economy—Trump wasted no time firing back. On Truth Social, he posted that Powell “should have lowered Interest Rates… long ago,” adding, “Powell’s termination cannot come fast enough!”
But—here’s the thing—Trump can’t just fire him.
Can Trump Really Remove Jerome Powell?
Short answer? No, not legally. The Federal Reserve isn’t like a Cabinet department. It’s set up to be independent from political pressure, and that’s kind of the whole point.
Powell, while speaking in Chicago, addressed the elephant in the room. “Our independence is a matter of law,” he said. Fed governors, including the chair, can only be removed “for cause.” And by “for cause,” the law means serious misconduct or failure to perform the job—not just disagreeing on interest rates.
Now, Congress could change that law, but Powell didn’t seem too worried. “Fed independence has pretty broad support across both political parties,” he added. In other words, even in a pretty divided Washington, firing a Fed Chair over policy differences isn’t likely to get much traction.
Trump’s Supreme Court Play
Still, Trump isn’t exactly letting this one go quietly. He’s pushing a case to the U.S. Supreme Court that could upend how presidents deal with independent federal agencies. If the Court sides with him, it could challenge the long-standing precedent from a 1935 case—Humphrey’s Executor—which limits a president’s ability to fire members of independent boards unless there’s clear cause.
Would that ruling apply to the Fed? Powell doesn’t think so, but also said, “I don’t know. It’s a situation we’re monitoring carefully.”
A Bit of History
Powell isn’t some outsider. Trump himself appointed him as Fed Chair during his first term. Then, in a twist of political irony, President Biden reappointed him in 2022 for another four-year term. So, unless the law changes or the Court does something unexpected, Powell’s not going anywhere anytime soon.
