Federal Reserve removal power
Trump v. Lisa D. Cook
In brief
The Court denied interim relief, leaving the injunction protecting Cook's position in place for now without resolving the ultimate removal dispute.
- Where it stands
- Decided
Decided 5-4 · June 29, 2026 · Opinion by Justice Kavanaugh
- What it’s about
- The Court denied the Government’s request to pause an injunction that prevents President Trump from removing Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook while her case continues.
- Who it affects
- Cook remains in office for now. The Court did not finally decide whether the President may lawfully remove her for cause based on the alleged pre-appointment conduct.
Summary: written with AI from the case record.
What it's about
The ruling leaves Cook in office for now and does not finally decide whether the President may lawfully remove her for cause.
The case concerns the legal protections for Federal Reserve governors and the limits of presidential removal power.
Question presented
Should the Court stay a district court injunction preventing the President from removing a member of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors "for cause" based on pre-appointment conduct without prior notice or a hearing?
What the Court decided
Holding
The Government’s application is denied.
The vote
- Joined the judgment
- Dissented
- Wrote an opinion
- Majority · 5joined the Court's opinion
From the opinions
“The President of the United States seeks relief from a court order that restores a principal executive officer to her position after the President removed her.”
What's next
The case returns to continued litigation over the facts and legal standards for removing Cook. Lower courts may assess the asserted grounds for removal while the injunction remains in place.
Docket activity
New analysis added
AI analysis generated: Case Briefing
New analysis added
AI analysis generated: Decision Record
AI analysis generated: Impact Analysis
Show 7 moreShow fewer
AI analysis generated: Opinion Summary
New analysis added
New analysis added
New analysis added
New analysis added
Case data updated: summary, question_presented, generation_metadata
New analysis added
More questions
- What did the Supreme Court do in Trump v. Cook?
- The Court denied the Government's application to pause the district court injunction. That injunction remains in effect during the litigation.
- Who remains on the Federal Reserve Board?
- Lisa Cook remains in her position for now because the injunction preventing her removal was not paused.
- Did the Court decide whether President Trump can remove Cook?
- No. The Court's action was interim and did not finally decide whether the President may lawfully remove Cook for cause.
- What happens next in the Cook case?
- The parties continue litigating in lower court. The unresolved issues include the facts and legal standards governing the attempted removal.
Sources
Primary materials plus reporting. Best-effort analysis: this explainer relies on a mix of primary materials and trusted secondary sources. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.