DLNews Politics:

Supreme Court Tells Trump to Keep His Hands Off the Fed – For Now

Washington – Donald Trump may be the most persistent landlord in American politics, but the Supreme Court just told him he can’t evict Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook—at least not yet. In a ruling that preserves the independence of the central bank, the justices rejected the administration’s request to oust her before the case is fully argued. Oral arguments will be heard in January, leaving Cook in her office and Trump fuming in his.

At the heart of the standoff is Trump’s allegation that Cook engaged in mortgage fraud years before she ever donned the mantle of Fed policymaker. Cook flatly denies the claims, insisting any alleged irregularities had nothing to do with her public service. Federal judges in Washington and an appeals court had already blocked Trump’s attempt at a summary dismissal, noting that misconduct from the distant past is not a “just cause” for removal under the law governing the Fed’s board. The Supreme Court, despite its conservative majority, agreed that the brakes should stay on.

Trump’s long-running war of words with the Fed has been a feature of his presidency. He has spent years badgering Jerome Powell to step aside, often suggesting the central bank ought to behave more like an extension of the Oval Office. Courts, however, continue to remind him that the Fed isn’t designed to be a political chew toy. Independence, as one judge put it, is not just tradition but a safeguard for financial stability.

For now, Cook remains in her post, continuing the quiet, methodical work of central banking while the president rallies his base with fiery accusations. The Supreme Court has simply told Trump to wait his turn—though if history is any guide, patience is not a skill he keeps in abundant supply. January’s hearing promises to be another high-stakes moment in his ongoing clash with one of the few Washington institutions that still believes in keeping politics out of monetary policy.