Trump restarts effort to fire Fed's Lisa Cook
The Hill · C · trust 61/100
Comments: by Mallory Wilson - 08/07/26 6:17 PM ET Comments: Link copied by Mallory Wilson - 08/07/26 6:17 PM ET Comments: Link copied NOW PLAYING President Trump is reportedly renewing his effort to boot Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook from her position, despite the Supreme Court thwarting his earlier attempt in June.
A letter from White House presidential aide Dan Scavino, dated Wednesday, said the president was “considering” removing her, according to a copy of the letter obtained by The Hill.
The letter was first reported by ABC News .
It said there was “sufficient reason to believe that you made false statements on one or more mortgage agreements.”
It also asked her to “prove a written response with your explanation for your false statements and accompanying evidence,” within three weeks.
Trump first tried to fire Cook last August over accusations of mortgage fraud in an unprecedented move. It came after a referral from Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte, who suggested Cook illegally designated properties she had in Michigan and Georgia as primary residences to receive better financing terms.
She fought the firing and pushed back on the allegations, arguing that it was spurred by Trump’s frustrations over the central bank not lowering the interest rates quickly enough.
The Supreme Court ruled in June that she can remain on the job as the case moves forward.
Chief Justice John Roberts wrote at the time that Trump didn’t give Cook due process to contest the allegations, but also noted that whether she can removed “for cause will depend in part on the underlying facts.”
“In this opinion, we have not addressed the facts, as they have yet to be found or analyzed under the relevant legal standards. Rather, we have simply addressed the parties’ arguments about the appropriate legal standards under which the facts must be evaluated,” he wrote.
In a statement, Cook’s legal team said they will fight “this latest pretext and preserve her position and the historic role of the Fed.”
“These allegations are as baseless now as they were a year ago when President Trump tried to remove Governor Cook and interfere with the independence of the Federal Reserve,” the statement said. “No matter was President Trump tries to do next, this much is clear under the facts and Supreme Court precedent – there is no valid cause for removing Governor Cook.”
The Hill has reached out to the White House for comment. The Federal Reserve declined to comment.
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