Meet Lisa Cook – the Fed Governor Trump Wants to Terminate
Lisa Cook, the Fed’s Trailblazer, Faces Trump’s Latest Buzzkill
Who is Lisa Cook? A quick snapshot
- First Black woman on the 7‑member Fed board.
- Appointed by President Joe Biden in May 2022.
- Professor of economics at Michigan State; holds degrees from Oxford and UC‑Berkeley.
- Speaks five languages—yes, even Russian.
Why Trump’s ire hits hard
President Trump, who’s been shouting for lower rates since 2021, is laser‑focused on Cook. On Truth Social he even delivered a “removal notice,” claiming she’s “involved in mortgage fraud.” In reality, the allegation has no basis, and the Fed is an autonomous beast that calls the shots, not the White House.
The legal drama unfolds
Cook has fired back. “I was not appointed by you, and you have no power to yank me from this role,” she said. Her lawyer, per a press release, intends to file a lawsuit to put Trump’s dismissal claim in the court’s rear‑view mirror.
Behind the headlines – Cook’s fight for fairness
- Her childhood in Georgia left her with scars from racism that still shape her worldview.
- She’s an expert on how discrimination dents a nation’s productivity.
- Cook’s research covers everything from the labor market to post‑genocide Rwanda.
- She’s devoted to untangling the dark roots of inequality—what she calls the “economic ghosts” that haunt America.
How the Fed has handled her votes
Cook often sits in line with Chair Jerome Powell. Whether the bank lowered rates this year or put a pause on cuts, she has supported the same cautious approach that many economists hope to keep inflation in check.
Do critics hold merit? Or are they echoing old stereotypes?
Some opponents claimed Cook doesn’t have the “economic” chops to run the Fed. Dr. says, “My PhD from Berkeley and studies of global macro‑economics make me a legit panel member.” Indeed, like most Fed folks, she’s not a pure‑bred economist by training. But that’s irrelevant when the topics at hand are as global and intertwined as the economy itself.
What’s next?
Cook’s contract runs until 2038, and unless a lawsuit turns this into a real headline, she’s likely to stay, continue to push for inclusive policy, and get her voice heard—one rate‑cut at a time.
