Kevin Warsh faces Senate confirmation

Kevin Warsh's path to leading the world's most powerful central bank faced intense scrutiny during a high-stakes Senate confirmation hearing.

Warsh pledged to maintain monetary policy independence from the White House, despite President Trump's public demands for immediate interest rate cuts.

Democratic senators questioned Warsh over his extensive financial holdings and past policy stances, while some Republicans threatened to block the vote until the probe into Jerome Powell is resolved.

The transition comes at a volatile time for the U.S. economy, with persistent inflation and geopolitical shocks driving market uncertainty.