President Trump on Friday threatened to fire Lisa Cook, a Federal Reserve governor, opening a new legal chapter in his efforts to reshape the government. Here’s what to know about the president’s power to fire members of the Federal Reserve board.
Can he do that?
Congress has limited the president’s power to remove Fed officials, saying they can be fired only “for cause,” which is generally understood to mean gross misconduct.
Is there cause for firing Ms. Cook?
The Trump administration has accused Ms. Cook of mortgage fraud. In a statement on Wednesday, she said she had “no intention of being bullied to step down from my position.”
“I do intend to take any questions about my financial history seriously as a member of the Federal Reserve,” she added, “and so I am gathering the accurate information to answer any legitimate questions and provide the facts.”
Bill Pulte, the federal housing director, said he had referred the matter to the Justice Department for investigation. But Ms. Cook has not been charged with any crime.
What happens if Mr. Trump tries to fire Ms. Cook for cause?
She could sue to keep her job, and a judge would then determine whether there is enough evidence to meet the “for cause” requirement. The judge would also decide what would happen in the near term, while the issue was being litigated.
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The post Can Trump Fire a Fed Governor? What to Know About the Legal Arguments. appeared first on New York Times.
