US Supreme Court Allows Fed Governor Cook to Remain in Office

Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook was nominated by former President Joe Biden and took office in 2022 for a term running through 2038. President Donald Trump sought to remove her in August 2025 over allegations that she made false statements in mortgage documents before taking office. Because the Federal Reserve Act permits governors to be removed only “for cause,” the case could determine whether the White House can interfere in interest-rate decisions and affect central-bank independence.

The US Supreme Court on June 29, 2026, voted 5–4 to reject the Trump administration’s request to stay a lower-court injunction, allowing Cook to remain in office while the removal lawsuit proceeds. The majority said the government had not adequately explained its evidence or provided Cook with a way or a deadline to respond, leaving her without sufficient procedural protections. The ruling preserves the status quo but does not finally resolve the mortgage allegations or the substantive dispute over removal “for cause.”