White House renews push to oust Fed Governor Lisa Cook

The Trump administration has revived its attempt to remove Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook from her post, sending her a new notice letter this week that sets an August 26 deadline to contest her dismissal.

The move comes two months after the Supreme Court, in a 5-4 ruling, allowed Cook to remain in her position while her lawsuit against her initial firing proceeds. The administration is appealing a lower-court ruling that favored Cook.

In the latest letter, White House aide Dan Scavino informed Cook that President Donald Trump is "considering removing" her, citing the Supreme Court's requirement that she receive proper notice and an opportunity to respond.

The administration's case against Cook stems from a criminal referral made last August by Bill Pulte, director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency. Pulte accused Cook of mortgage fraud for declaring two different properties—one in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and one in Atlanta—as her "primary residence," a designation that can secure lower mortgage rates or smaller down payments.

Cook has denied the allegations, calling them a "manufactured pretext" for her removal because she refused to bow to political pressure in setting interest rates. Her lawyer, Abbe Lowell, argues that Cook has primarily lived in the Ann Arbor home since 2005, making it accurate to call it her primary residence in a 2021 refinancing application. He describes the Atlanta condo's designation as an "isolated notation" without intent to defraud, noting that earlier documents referred to it as a vacation or second home.

Lowell dismissed the new letter as a rehash of baseless claims, vowing to challenge the latest attempt and preserve Cook's position and the Federal Reserve's independence.