President Donald Trump has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to allow him to fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook while a case to stop it works its way through the courts.
Lower courts have paused Trump's firing until it can be adjudicated; however, in the past several rulings about firings, the court has allowed them to progress until they fully work their way through the system. Even executive orders that legal scholars argued were unconstitutional have been enforced until the cases were ultimately decided.
Lawyer Allen Orr Jr. noted, "In 2025, Trump has filed 25 emergency appeals to the Supreme Court. The Court has ruled in his favor in 21 of them. The growing reliance on the shadow docket raises serious questions about fairness and judicial balance."
NPR Marketplace host Kai Ryssdal called this case "the whole ballgame."
Legal analyst Ken White agreed, reposting the note and questioning, "Will the Supreme Court protect its retirement accounts by continuing to treat the Fed as its Large Adult Son outside of the normal maximal executive power agenda it is pursuing? Tune in later to find out or just watch out the window for falling stockbrokers."
Lawyer Kennedth Manusama also questioned, "Will the Court scuttle the Fed as an independent agency and pave the way for the firing of Chairman Powell?"
Trump's administration accused Cook of committing "mortgage fraud," citing her mortgage documents. The Federal Housing Authority chief, Bill Pulte, alleged that Cook claimed more than one home as her primary residence. However, Reuters reported that documents show Cook declared one residence a "vacation home." Bloomberg News reported that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent declared two residences as his "primary," however. It raises questions over whether the Supreme Court will allow Trump to fire someone based on a false allegation created by his administration.
"Trump has attempted to fire Fed Governor Lisa Cook for reasons that are blatantly pretextual. He is breaking the law, partly to install a stooge governor who'll inflate for him; partly for reasons of racial animus. The case now goes to the Supreme Court," commented former George W. Bush speechwriter and conservative commentator David Frum.
Comedian JL Cauvin wrote on X, "Trump lied about Lisa Cook. Trump has no good cause to remove her. So, of course, he's asking the Supreme Court to legalize his illegality."