Washington, September 16 (HS): The US Senate has narrowly confirmed Stephen Miran, President Donald Trump’s top economic adviser, to the Federal Reserve’s Board of Governors in a contentious move that could reshape the central bank’s policymaking as it weighs critical interest rate decisions.

Miran, chair of the Council of Economic Advisers, was confirmed on Monday by a 48–47 vote, becoming the first sitting White House official in decades to join the Fed’s board. His confirmation places him immediately among the 12 voting members at this week’s policy meeting, where Trump is pushing for a sharp rate cut to boost the economy.

The appointment has raised alarm over the Fed’s independence, a principle long regarded as central to stable US monetary policy. Critics argue that Miran’s dual role as a political loyalist and policymaker risks blurring the line between government priorities and central bank autonomy.

The development comes as Trump escalates efforts to reshape the Fed, including a controversial attempt to dismiss Governor Lisa Cook—the first Black woman to serve on the board—over disputed allegations of mortgage fraud. Cook has denied wrongdoing and secured a temporary court order blocking her removal. On Monday, a US appeals court rejected a Justice Department request to lift the injunction, deepening Trump’s confrontation with the judiciary.

With Miran now seated and a looming fight over Cook’s future, Trump’s influence over the world’s most powerful central bank is set to grow, injecting fresh political volatility into upcoming monetary policy decisions.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar