Supreme Court Delays Firing of Fed Governor Lisa Cook

The Supreme Court on Wednesday deferred action on President Trump’s emergency request to remove Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, saying it will hear arguments in January 2026 and allowing Cook to remain on the Fed pending that review. Trump announced Cook’s August firing, citing alleged mortgage paperwork inconsistencies; Cook has denied wrongdoing and has not been criminally charged. Lower courts have blocked the removal as likely unlawful, and the high-court order preserves Cook’s ability to take part in upcoming Fed meetings, including the late-October interest-rate decision. Justices will also take up a related December case on the president’s authority to fire officials at other independent agencies, and one central legal question is whether courts can enjoin removals or only award back pay. The dispute spotlights tensions over presidential control of independent agencies and concerns about protecting the Fed’s institutional independence.