Lawyers for President Donald Trump on Thursday asked a federal appeals court to let his bid to fire Federal Reserve Board Governor Lisa Cook take effect before the central bank’s rate-setting committee meets next week.
The request to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit came two days after a lower-court judge blocked Trump from removing Cook from her post while her lawsuit proceeds.
The Federal Open Market Committee, which includes Cook, is set to convene Tuesday for a two-day policy meeting where members will decide whether to cut a benchmark interest rate.
Trump’s lawyers from the Department of Justice want the appeals court to issue a ruling by Monday afternoon because the FOMC “is scheduled to meet and may direct open market activities for Federal Reserve Banks” by Tuesday, their court filing says.
Trump wants the Fed to slash rates in order to spur economic growth and reduce the cost of paying the nation’s debts. He has frequently attacked Fed Chairman Jerome Powell for refusing to lower rates in 2025 so far, and at points considered trying to fire him.
