Republican senator vows to block Trump Fed nominee over Powell investigation

By Fox News · Fox News

A Senate Republican again plans to act as a roadblock to President Donald Trump, this time against any potential replacement for Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. Sen. Thom Tillis , R-N.C., announced that he would block any future nominee to serve as chair of the Fed following the revelation that Powell was under criminal investigation for testimony he gave regarding the renovation at the Federal Reserve. "If there were any remaining doubt whether advisors within the Trump Administration are actively pushing to end the independence of the Federal Reserve, there should now be none," Tillis said on X. "It is now the independence and credibility of the Department of Justice that are in question." FEDERAL RESERVE CHAIR POWELL UNDER CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION OVER HQ RENOVATION "I will oppose the confirmation of any nominee for the Fed — including the upcoming Fed Chair vacancy — until this legal matter is fully resolved," he continued. Tillis’ decision comes with weight — as a member of the Senate Banking Committee , he would get an immediate say on who does and doesn’t pass muster to be the next chair of the Federal Reserve. And that’s a reality that will likely soon play out, given that Powell’s term as chair expires in May, though he is still slated to stay on the central bank’s board of governors until 2028. It's also not the first time he's stood directly in the path of Trump. Tillis last week announced that he would be blocking all future Department of Homeland Security (DHS) nominees until DHS Secretary Kristi Noem appears before the Senate Judiciary Committee. A DHS spokesperson told Fox News Digital, "Secretary Noem testified on Capitol Hill less than a month ago and remains committed to transparency and continued engagement with Congress." GOP SENATOR BLOCKS TRUMP DHS NOMINEES UNTIL NOEM TESTIFIES BEFORE SENATE "While the Department does not currently have any nominees pending before the Senate, we hope senators will refrain from holding President Trump’s appo…