Lisa Cook’s Firing Exposes Trump’s Federal Reserve Tampering

President Trump’s firing of Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook is unprecedented in American history. For 111 years, no president has removed a sitting governor. The law is clear: Fed governors can only be removed “for cause,” and the Supreme Court reaffirmed this just months ago. The allegations against Cook are unproven, raised by a Trump appointee, and fall far short of legal justification. This was not about misconduct. It was about power. By ousting Lisa Cook, Trump eliminated the first and only Black woman to ever serve on the Federal Reserve Board. Cook is one of the most accomplished economists of her generation, with degrees from Spelman, Oxford, and Berkeley, and a record of groundbreaking research on innovation and systemic discrimination. Her 14-year term was set to run until 2038, providing continuity and expertise that cannot be easily replaced. Removing her mid-term strips the Fed of both representation and experience. The implications for our economy are dangerous. Central banks must remain independent for markets to trust monetary policy. Trump’s action comes on the eve of key Fed discussions at Jackson Hole, signaling he is willing to shake markets and undermine stability for political gain. Experts warn that political interference of this kind drives up inflation risks, destabilizes the dollar, and erodes global confidence in the U.S. economy. Congress must act immediately to investigate this removal, protect the independence of the Federal Reserve, and stop one man from turning monetary policy into a campaign weapon.