US Governance — 2026-06-29

Supreme Court Blocks Trump Bid to Fire Fed Governor Lisa Cook in 5-4 Ruling

BLUFRoberts' statutory carve-out for the Fed is a procedural speed bump, not a structural barrier, and Trump's same-day vow to act signals a compliant second removal attempt is already in motion.

The Supreme Court voted 5-4 on Monday to block Trump's removal of Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, in an opinion by Chief Justice Roberts joined by Justice Kavanaugh and the court's three liberal justices 123. Roberts held that Cook was entitled to notice and an opportunity to respond before termination, rejecting the government's contention that a for-cause removal falls outside judicial review 123. The ruling does not bar a renewed removal attempt if proper procedures are followed; Trump posted on Truth Social that he would "take appropriate action immediately" 23. In a companion ruling issued the same day, Roberts wrote for a 6-3 majority overturning Humphrey's Executor and affirming Trump's authority to remove FTC Commissioner Rebecca Slaughter, with the court distinguishing the Fed from other independent agencies on statutory grounds 3.

Analysis
Roberts' statutory carve-out for the Fed is more fragile than it reads. Congress could alter the structure, and the ruling leaves unresolved whether Trump's asserted cause is legally sufficient, so the procedural reprieve invites a retry, not a settled outcome. The companion Slaughter opinion, overturning Humphrey's Executor for a 6-3 majority, is the larger structural event, exposing every other independent agency to at-will presidential removal. Trump's same-day vow to act signals a compliant second attempt is being prepared, though litigation exposure of a definitive loss on cause may make that vow theater rather than timetable. Markets pricing Monday's ruling as a durable victory for Fed independence underweight what Roberts actually held.

5 sources

25A312 Trump v. Cook - U.S. Supreme Court
Supreme Court rules Trump cannot fire Fed Governor Lisa Cook for now - CNBC
Supreme Court rules Trump cannot fire Fed member Lisa Cook; grants him more power over other independent agencies - NBC News
US Supreme Court rejects Trump unprecedented bid to fire Fed governor Lisa Cook - South China Morning Post
Supreme Court, for now, blocks Trump from firing Fed board member Lisa Cook - Washington Post