Trump establishes committee to investigate Fed governor Lisa Cook

Lisa Cook, a Federal Reserve governor, leaves the supreme court in Washington on 21 January 2026. Photograph: Mark Schiefelbein/APView image in fullscreenLisa Cook, a Federal Reserve governor, leaves the supreme court in Washington on 21 January 2026. Photograph: Mark Schiefelbein/APFederal ReserveTrump establishes committee to investigate Fed governor Lisa CookUS president renews his efforts to oust Cook despite supreme court ruling that her firing was unconstitutional

Donald Trump announced on Friday that he is establishing a committee to investigate Lisa Cook, the US Federal Reserve governor, over allegations that she committed mortgage fraud, renewing his efforts to oust her despite a June supreme court ruling that her earlier firing was unconstitutional.

Trump said a committee will consult with justice department officials to decide whether there is “cause” for her removal. The White House will hold an in-person hearing on 5 November to consider the allegations against Cook, which will be closed to the public but transcribed and published. Cook will be able to submit a written statement to present her own evidence and will be subject to examination from White House and her own legal counsel.

“As President, it is my job to ensure the laws are faithfully executed, including by firing subordinates who cannot be trusted to tell the truth and follow the law,” Trump said in a statement posted to the White House’s website.

Her legal team has maintained that the White House is “cherrypicking” facts and any claims of fraud are based on unrelated clerical errors.

In response to the announcement, Cook’s lawyers said that they had “grave doubts” that the White House hearing would be “a legitimate one that would conform to the law”.

“But if it is anything close to objective,” they continued, “the conclusion will be that Governor Cook did not commit mortgage fraud, leaving no cause to remove her from the Federal Reserve Board.”

They added that Cook “welcomes the opportunity to present the facts so she can clear her name and demonstrate there is no legal basis to fire her”.

Cook was appointed by Joe Biden in 2022 to a 14-year term, becoming the Fed’s first Black governor. Before her tenure at the central bank, she taught at Harvard University and Stanford University and served on Barack Obama’s council of economic advisers.

Cook’s battle with the White House began in August 2025 when she was abruptly fired after Trump said she committed mortgage fraud by listing two properties in Georgia and Michigan as her primary residence and failing to report rental income on her Atlanta property.

Cook immediately sued the Trump administration, and the supreme court reinstated her after a 5-4 ruling that she could stay on as governor while fighting the fraud allegations.

In June, the court ruled that Trump’s firing was unconstitutional because he did not follow proper procedure and give Cook an opportunity to dispute the allegations before she was fired.