How Trump’s repeated efforts to fire Federal Reserve Chair Powell harm the economy – and make battling inflation harder

The Conversation
by Ana Carolina Garriga, Professor or Political Science, Department of Government, University of Essex
April 16, 2026
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4 min read

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The Bottom Line

President Trump's repeated efforts to fire Federal Reserve Chair Powell risk harming the economy and battling inflation.

How This Affects You

Interference with the Federal Reserve's independence could make it harder to control inflation, potentially impacting your purchasing power and economic stability.

AI Summary

President Donald Trump has again threatened to oust Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, risking central bank independence. On April 15, 2026, the President stated he would fire Powell if he remained in his role after his term officially ends on May 15. This action is seen as undermining the Federal Reserve, with Powell calling such moves "pretexts" for Trump's goal of lowering interest rates. The Trump administration has also launched a criminal investigation into Fed building renovations and previously tried to oust Fed Governor Lisa Cook over mortgage fraud allegations. These repeated efforts to interfere with monetary policy could make battling inflation harder.

What's Being Done

The Trump administration has launched a criminal investigation into Fed building renovations and previously tried to oust Fed Governor Lisa Cook.

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