Ex-Fed chairs condemn Trump's bid to weaken central bank [View all]
Source: The Guardian
Mon 12 Jan 2026 11.17 EST
Last modified on Mon 12 Jan 2026 11.24 EST
Every living former head of the Federal Reserve condemned an “unprecedented” attempt by the Trump administration to weaken the central bank’s independence, after the Department of Justice opened a criminal investigation into its chair, Jerome Powell.
Ex-Fed chairs Alan Greenspan, Ben Bernanke and Janet Yellen warned similar prosecutorial attacks in other countries had led to “highly negative consequences” for the cost of living – and argued they had “no place” in the US.
“The reported criminal inquiry into Federal Reserve Chair Jay Powell is an unprecedented attempt to use prosecutorial attacks to undermine that independence,” a blunt statement signed by 13 former senior officials said. “This is how monetary policy is made in emerging markets with weak institutions, with highly negative consequences for inflation and the functioning of their economies more broadly.
“It has no place in the United States whose greatest strength is the rule of law, which is at the foundation of our economic success.”
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/jan/12/trump-condemn-federal-reserve-powell-investigation
Link to STATEMENT -
Jan 12, 2026
The Federal Reserve’s independence and the public’s perception of that independence are critical for economic performance, including achieving the goals Congress has set for the Federal Reserve of stable prices, maximum employment, and moderate long-term interest rates. The reported criminal inquiry into Federal Reserve Chair Jay Powell is an unprecedented attempt to use prosecutorial attacks to undermine that independence. This is how monetary policy is made in emerging markets with weak institutions, with highly negative consequences for inflation and the functioning of their economies more broadly. It has no place in the United States whose greatest strength is the rule of law, which is at the foundation of our economic success.
SIGNATORIES
Ben S. Bernanke served two terms as Chair of the Board of Governors of the Fed, as well as Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers under President George W. Bush.
Jared Bernstein served as Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers under President Joe Biden.
Jason Furman served as Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers under President Barack Obama.
Timothy F. Geithner served as the 75th Secretary of the Treasury under President Barack Obama, as well as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
Alan Greenspan served five terms as Chair of the Board of Governors of the Fed, first appointed by President Ronald Reagan and then reappointed by Presidents George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush. He also was Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers under President Gerald Ford.
Glenn Hubbard served as Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers under President George W. Bush.
Jacob J. Lew served as the 76th Secretary of the Treasury under President Barack Obama.
N. Gregory Mankiw served as Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers under President George W. Bush.
Henry M. Paulson served as the 74th Secretary of the Treasury under President George W. Bush.
Kenneth Rogoff is the Maurits C. Boas Professor of International Economics at Harvard University and former chief economist of the International Monetary Fund.
Christina Romer served as Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers under President Barack Obama.
Robert E. Rubin served as the 70th Secretary of the Treasury under President Bill Clinton, after serving as the first director of the White House National Economic Council.
Janet Yellen served as the 78th Secretary of the Treasury under President Joe Biden, Chair and Vice Chair of the Board of Governors of the Fed, Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers under President Bill Clinton, and President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco.
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