The Trump administration has renewed its effort to remove Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, notifying her that President Donald Trump is considering her removal over mortgage-fraud allegations and giving her 21 days to respond. The move revives an earlier attempt that was blocked by the US Supreme Court after the administration failed to give Cook notice and an opportunity to respond.
The new letter, dated on August 5, was signed by longtime Trump aide Dan Scavino. It gives Cook until August 26 to respond before any final decision on her removal. The administration said the alleged conduct constitutes “cause” for removal and has undermined public confidence in the Federal Reserve.
The letter explicitly states that the notice is being issued pursuant to the Supreme Court’s recent opinion, signalling that the administration is attempting to address the procedural issue that derailed Trump’s previous effort.
The allegations centre on claims that Cook made false statements on mortgage documents relating to properties she owned before joining the Federal Reserve. The accusations were first raised publicly in August 2025 and became the basis of Trump’s initial attempt to remove her.
The White House letter says Cook had known about the allegations since at least August 25, 2025, but had not provided an explanation despite having had “ample opportunity” to do so.
Supreme Court ruling reshapes Trump’s latest move
Trump’s renewed effort follows a Supreme Court decision earlier this year that blocked his first attempt to remove Cook without giving her an opportunity to contest the allegations. The Court’s ruling did not determine whether the mortgage-fraud allegations provided sufficient cause for removal, instead, it addressed the process through which the administration sought to remove her.
.@NewsHour obtained this letter the White House sent to Federal Reserve board governor Lisa Cook saying the “president is considering removing you” – offering 3 weeks for her to respond.
Supreme Court ruled she was entitled to notice and given a chance to respond to allegations. pic.twitter.com/mcFGDaSwAD
— Liz Landers (@ElizLanders) August 7, 2026
Federal Reserve governors serve staggered 14-year terms and, under federal law, can be removed only “for cause”. Cook was appointed to the Board in 2022 to complete an unexpired term and was nominated by President Joe Biden in 2023 for a full 14-year term, meaning her term would ordinarily run until 2038.
The dispute has therefore developed into an unusual confrontation over presidential authority and the independence of the US central bank. The renewed notice represents an unprecedented effort to remove a sitting Federal Reserve governor while attempting to comply with the procedural requirements identified by the Supreme Court.
Cook’s legal team has rejected the allegations. Her lawyers, Abbe Lowell and Norm Eisen, said the accusations were “as baseless now as they were a year ago” and accused Trump of seeking to interfere with the Federal Reserve’s independence.
They argued that, based on the facts and Supreme Court precedent, there was no valid cause for removing Cook and said they would challenge what they described as the administration’s latest “pretext” while defending her position and the institutional role of the Federal Reserve.
The administration, however, maintains that the alleged mortgage conduct is serious enough to constitute cause for removal. The White House has now given Cook a formal opportunity to answer the accusations before Trump makes a final decision.
The renewed confrontation comes as Trump continues to press for greater influence over economic policy and the Federal Reserve.
