Trump becomes first president ever to remove sitting Federal Reserve governor amid DOJ investigation into false statements
President Donald Trump ousted Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook on Monday, alleging she lied on mortgage forms by declaring two primary residences.
In a letter to Cook, Trump said the Federal Reserve Act provides that she can be removed at his discretion.
“As set forth in the Criminal Referral dated August 15, 2025, from Mr. William J. Pulte, Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, to Ms. Pamela Bondi, Attorney General of the United States…there is sufficient reason to believe you may have made false statements on one or more mortgage agreements,” Trump wrote. “For example, as detailed in the Criminal Referral, you signed one document attesting that a property in Michigan would be your primary residence for the next year.
“Two weeks later, you signed another document for a property in Georgia stating that it would be your primary residence for the next year,” Trump continued. “It is inconceivable that you were not aware of your first commitment when making the second. It is impossible that you intended to honor both.”