The US Supreme Court has ruled against President Trump’s effort to remove Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook from her position, delivering a 5-4 decision that lands squarely on the side of central bank independence. The ruling means Cook stays on the Board of Governors while related litigation continues.
A legal saga nearly a year in the making
Trump moved to fire Cook in August 2025, citing allegations of mortgage fraud. Cook denied the accusations, calling them unfounded and politically motivated.
The Federal Reserve Act includes a critical protection: governors can only be removed “for cause.”
By September 9, 2025, a DC District Court had issued a preliminary injunction blocking the removal. Six days later, the DC Circuit denied Trump’s emergency appeal. And on October 1, 2025, the Supreme Court itself denied an emergency application to proceed with Cook’s ouster.
