Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) commended President Trump’s announcement that he will nominate Kevin Warsh to become the next Federal Reserve chairman but reiterated that he will continue his opposition to approving a new chairman until the Department of Justice (DOJ) drops its criminal investigation into current Chairman Jerome Powell.
Tillis is a member of the Senate Banking Committee, where Republicans have a 13-11 majority. If every Democrat on the panel opposes Warsh and Tillis joins them in voting against the president’s choice, the nomination would remain stalled in committee.
In a post on X, Tillis stated, “Kevin Warsh is a qualified nominee with a deep understanding of monetary policy. However, the Department of Justice continues to pursue a criminal investigation into Chairman Jerome Powell based on committee testimony that no reasonable person could construe as possessing criminal intent. Protecting the independence of the Federal Reserve from political interference or legal intimidation is non-negotiable.”
Tillis added, “My position has not changed: I will oppose the confirmation of any Federal Reserve nominee, including for the position of Chairman, until the DOJ’s inquiry into Chairman Powell is fully and transparently resolved.”
Alaska’s Sen. Lisa Murkowski, another Republican who echoed Tillis’ pledge to oppose the nomination a new Fed chairman while Powell is still being probed, did not publicly comment on the Warsh nomination.
