Warsh’s challenge: Navigating Fed independence and Trump’s demands
January 30, 2026
Kevin Warsh has sought the job of Federal Reserve chair, off and on, since President Donald Trump first considered him for the position nearly a decade ago. Now that he is in line for the job, the enormity of the challenge ahead of him is clear. To be effective, Warsh will have to gain the trust of the committee of Federal Reserve officials, the financial markets, and not least Trump. Warsh may also face a bumpy confirmation process in the Senate, where two Republicans have said they will oppose his nomination unless a recently-revealed criminal investigation of the Fed and its current chair, Jerome Powell, is resolved.