The Supreme Court appeared ready to rule against President Donald Trump’s attempt to immediately remove Federal Reserve Board member Lisa Cook, expressing skepticism during oral arguments Wednesday about a president’s control over the central bank.
The Trump administration had asked the justices to overturn lower court rulings that kept Cook in place while she challenges Trump’s effort to remove her over allegations of mortgage fraud. Congress gave members “for cause” protections in the law creating the Fed, and lower courts agreed that the firing was likely unlawful and reinstated Cook.
During more than an hour and a half of arguments, the justices questioned not only Trump’s request for the Supreme Court to allow him to remove Cook as her challenge plays out in court, but his arguments about the structure of government and the independence of the Federal Reserve.
