Trump considering Lisa Cook removal returned to the fore this week as the White House notified the Federal Reserve governor that the president is weighing whether to terminate her from the Board of Governors and has given her a deadline to respond to disputed allegations.
The move follows a June 29 Supreme Court order that temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s initial attempt to oust Cook, underscoring the importance of shielding the central bank from political pressure, according to the opinion. In an Aug. 5 letter, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino told Cook the president was considering her removal and set a 21-day window to answer allegations that she committed mortgage fraud in 2021, before joining the Fed, by listing both a Georgia condominium and a Michigan house as her primary residence on mortgage applications to secure better loan terms.
Cook has forcefully rejected the accusations, and other financial records appear to undercut the administration’s claims, according to people familiar with the matter.
Trump considering Lisa Cook removal after Supreme Court guidance
Scavino’s letter cited the decision in Trump v. Cook, in which the majority held that Cook was entitled to notice and some opportunity to respond before any termination. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote that Cook was not necessarily entitled to a meeting with the president or a full judicial proceeding, but that she must have the chance to present argument and, if needed, informal proof before a final decision.
Referencing an August 2025 criminal referral by Federal Housing Finance Agency Director William Pulte and his accompanying letter outlining the allegations, Scavino told Cook this was her opportunity to respond. He invited her to submit any evidence, documentation, or argument for consideration by the president through the Director of Presidential Personnel no later than Aug. 26, 2026.
Cook’s attorneys, Abbe Lowell and Norm Eisen, said she received the White House letter on Friday. In a statement, they argued the allegations are as baseless as when Trump first attempted to remove her and said any such effort would interfere with the Federal Reserve’s independence. They added that Supreme Court precedent leaves no valid cause to remove Governor Cook and vowed to challenge what they described as a pretext to protect her position and the Fed’s institutional role.