Tillis Blocks Trump’s Fed Chair Pick Over Powell Probe Standoff
Sen. Thom Tillis, a key Republican on the Senate Banking Committee, says he will not support President Trump’s nominee to lead the Federal Reserve — former Fed governor Kevin Warsh — until a criminal investigation into current Fed Chair Jerome Powell is resolved.
The Republican from North Carolina reiterated his position in a televised interview and on the Senate floor, telling reporters he has “no intention of supporting any confirmation of any Fed board member—chair or otherwise” while the Justice Department’s probe continues.
Trump tapped Warsh in late January to replace Powell when his term ends in May 2026 after publicly criticizing Powell for not lowering interest rates as aggressively as he wanted.
Tillis has called Warsh “a qualified nominee” but says the ongoing legal matter surrounding Powell — who disclosed in late 2025 that federal prosecutors were investigating his congressional testimony — threatens the Fed’s independence and must be cleared before any confirmations can move forward.
In recent days, Tillis has signaled openness to a compromise that might allow formal hearings to begin on Warsh’s nomination if alternative oversight of the renovation dispute is agreed upon.
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His stance gives Tillis significant leverage: as a Banking Committee member, he can block Warsh’s nomination from advancing to a full Senate vote, potentially stalling the confirmation despite Republican control of the chamber.
For now, confirmation delays are likely as senators negotiate how, or whether, to separate the Powell investigation from consideration of Warsh’s credentials.