Kevin Warsh set to clear key Senate hurdle to replace Fed chair Powell

A Senate committee is poised to advance Trump’s pick as doubts linger over the Fed’s independence and Powell’s future

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Kevin Warsh, ​Donald Trump’s pick to lead the https://www.theguardian.com/business/federal-reserve">Federal Reserve, is set to clear a key procedural hurdle on Wednesday, opening ‌the way for him to succeed https://www.reuters.com/business/powells-tenure-fed-chief-bookended-by-trump-draws-close-2026-04-29/">Jerome Powell in coming weeks amid the White House’s unprecedented efforts to exert control over the world’s most powerful central bank.

The Senate banking committee is set to vote at 10am EDT (1400 GMT) to advance Warsh’s nomination to the full Republican-controlled Senate.

All 13 Republicans on ​the panel are expected to support Warsh after https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-senator-tillis-says-hes-ready-advance-confirmation-warsh-fed-chair-2026-04-26/">Thom Tillis, a North Carolina senator, dropped his opposition following the Department of Justice’s ​decision on Friday to https://www.reuters.com/world/us/justice-dept-close-investigation-federal-reserve-renovations-us-attorney-pirro-2026-04-24/">end a criminal investigation into Powell that Tillis viewed as a threat to the ⁠Fed’s political independence.