President Trump wants to fire Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook. Can he do that?

By Ailsa Chang,

Kathryn Fink, Jeanette Woods

Published August 26, 2025 at 4:53 PM EDT

President Trump wants to fire Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook. Can he do that? NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with Columbia University law professor Kathryn Judge about the legalities.

Ailsa Chang

Ailsa Chang is an award-winning journalist who hosts All Things Considered along with Ari Shapiro, Audie Cornish, and Mary Louise Kelly. She landed in public radio after practicing law for a few years.

See stories by Ailsa Chang

Kathryn Fink

Kathryn Fink is a producer with NPR's All Things Considered.

Jeanette Woods

You make NHPR possible.

NHPR is nonprofit and independent. We rely on readers like you to support the local, national, and international coverage on this website. Your support makes this news available to everyone.

Give today. A monthly donation of $5 makes a real difference.