Trump Allies Renew Push to Oust 2 Fed Governors as Supreme Court Blocks Lisa Cook Firing

Q: What legal path remains to replace a Fed governor after the Supreme Court's recent landmark ruling?

The remaining legal path is narrow: a Fed governor can be replaced only if a vacancy is created through a valid “for cause” removal, or through the ordinary end of a term, resignation, or death. After the Supreme Court’s ruling in *Trump v. Cook*, the president cannot remove a Federal Reserve governor at will. The Court treated the Fed as a special case and left intact the Board’s statutory protection that governors may be removed only for cause. That means the White House would have to build a record showing serious grounds such as inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance — not simply policy disagreement or a desire for a more aligned appointee. The ruling also made clear that any new removal effort must follow due process. A governor must receive notice of the allegations, an explanation of the evidence, and a real opportunity to respond before any final action. The Court indicated that this process need not resemble a full trial, but it must be meaningful. Any removal would then be open to judicial review, with courts able to test whether the stated cause is genuine and legally sufficient. If a governor is lawfully removed, or if a seat opens naturally when a term ends or a member leaves office, the replacement process is unchanged: the president nominates a successor and the Senate must confirm that nominee.

3 articles · Updated · Bloomberg · Jul 2

Trump officials and outside allies are again exploring ways to remove Federal Reserve Board members, aiming to open seats for more of the president’s own appointees.
The renewed effort follows a Supreme Court move this week that blocked an attempt to fire Governor Lisa Cook, leaving her in place for now.
Lisa Cook remains a target, according to people familiar with the matter, and former Fed Chair Jerome Powell is also in allies’ sights.
The campaign signals a broader bid to reshape the Fed’s Washington-based Board of Governors despite legal limits on presidential power over the central bank.