President Donald Trump is reportedly again weighing the removal of Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, restarting a fight the Supreme Court paused in June.
Reports Detail Renewed Allegations
Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino sent Cook a letter Wednesday saying there was “sufficient reason to believe” she had made false statements on mortgage agreements. The allegations are the same ones Trump made last year, CNBC reported on Friday.
Cook has denied any wrongdoing and sued over the attempt to remove her. Scavino gave her three weeks to respond, the report stated.
The White House did not immediately respond to Benzinga’s request for comment.
Abbe David Lowell, a lawyer for Cook, and Norm Eisen, executive chair of Democracy Defenders Fund, said in a joint statement that the allegations “are as baseless now as they were a year ago when President Trump tried to remove Governor Cook and interfere with the independence of the Federal Reserve.”
“No matter what President Trump tries to do next, this much is clear under the facts and Supreme Court precedent — there is no valid cause for removing Governor Cook,” the statement continued. “As we did before, we will challenge this latest pretext and preserve her position and the historic role of the Fed.”
How the Fight Began
Trump first fired Cook in August 2025, accusing her of "deceitful and potentially criminal conduct" after a Federal Housing Finance Agency referral alleged that she had listed properties in Michigan and Georgia as primary residences on documents signed just weeks apart.
Cook later provided documents showing that the Atlanta condo was described as a "vacation home" on a 2021 loan estimate.
Supreme Court Left Door Open for a Second Attempt
A lower court had blocked Trump’s earlier attempt to remove Cook, and the Supreme Court upheld that ruling in a 5-4 decision in June. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote that the decision didn’t stop Trump from trying again, provided he followed proper due-process steps this time.
Roberts noted Trump had “failed to afford Cook the procedural protections to which she was entitled by statute.” He added that Fed governors do not serve “at the president’s pleasure” and may be removed only “for cause.”
Cook was appointed by former President Joe Biden and took office in 2022. Her term is set to run through Jan. 31, 2038.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
