Only half of economists believe Kevin Warsh would maintain the Federal Reserve's independence should he be confirmed as chair, according to a new poll.
The survey, conducted by CNBC, showed that 46% of respondents believe he will only be somewhat independent or not independent at all.
The outlet noted that while the figure is high, confidence in his independence is 13 points higher than in the previous poll, suggesting his confirmation hearing where he vowed to maintain the central bank independent may have convinced some people.
Warsh got closer to getting the position during the weekend after Republican Senator Thom Tillis said he will support his nomination following the Department of Justice's dropping of a criminal investigation on the body's current leader, Jerome Powell.
Speaking on NBC News, Tillis said "we worked a lot over the weekend to make sure that we were very clear that we have assurances from the DOJ that I needed to feel like they were not using the DOJ as a weapon to threaten the independence of the Fed."
"So this will allow Mr. Wash to move on with his confirmation on time," Tillis added.
The lawmaker had been saying he would not vote to advance Warsh as the investigation continued, preventing him from getting the necessary votes to get confirmed.
On Friday, federal prosecutor Jeanine Pirro announced that the Inspector General for the Federal Reserve was asked to "scrutinize the building costs overruns" of the Fed's headquarters, which were at the center of allegations against Powell.
"I expect a comprehensive report in short order and am confident the outcome will assist in resolving, once and for all, the questions that led this office to issue subpoenas. Accordingly, I have directed my office to close our investigation as the IG undertakes this inquiry. Note well, however, that I will not hesitate to restart a criminal investigation should the facts warrant doing so," Pirro added.
Warsh faced a contentious confirmation hearing last week, where he claimed that the central bank will remain "strictly independent" and rejected he will be the president's "sock puppet."
"I am committed to ensuring that the conduct of monetary policy remains strictly independent," he told the Senate Banking Committee.
Warsh was grilled by senators about his independence should he be confirmed, particularly considering Trump's demands that interest rates are cut soon to boost economic activity, as well as the stock market.
He claimed that Trump "never once asked me to commit to any particular interest rate decision, period, and nor would I ever agree to do so if he had."
The president, however, was asked last week if he would be disappointed if Warsh did not push for lower rates as soon as he joined the Fed. "I would," Trump said.
