Supreme Court keeps Milledgeville native Lisa Cook on Federal Reserve Board, rejecting Trump's attempt to fire her

The U.S. Supreme Court allowed a Milledgeville-native to stay on the job as a member of the U.S. Federal Reserve Board of Governors for now, allowing her continue on the board as a lawsuit over President Donald Trump’s decision to fire her continues.

Federal Reserve Board of Governors member Lisa Cook — who is originally from Baldwin County — was appointed to the Federal Reserve Board in 2022, an independent agency responsible for setting monetary policy.

But President Trump attempted to remove Cook from her position back in August 2025, attempting to fire her “for cause” based on allegations of mortgage fraud. Cook rejects any claims of wrongdoing.

They claim that she had listed two homes as her primary residence, which they argue was an effort to get more favorable terms for loans.

Regardless of the claims against her, the Supreme Courts decision focused on whether Trump afforded the proper “procedural protections” to challenge her firing. A majority of justices agreed that he did not.

“The Court rejects the Government’s halfhearted contention that Cook in fact received due process,” the Supreme Court ruled. “At minimum, Cook was entitled to some explanation of the evidence at issue, some avenue for a response, and a deadline by which a response would be due. “

Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the majority opinion in 5-4 ruling.

Cook is originally from Milledgeville, where her father was a chaplain at Central State Hospital and her mother taught at Georgia College’s nursing school.

She went on to become a rising-star in the world of economics, receiving a Ph.D. in economics from the University of California Berkley, before her appointment to the Federal Reserve Board of Governors.

The Federal Reserve has a unique legal status designed to insulate it from political interference. The Federal Reserves’ budget does not get approved by Congress and there are strict measures in place to avoid a perception of legal interference.

Under the Federal Reserve Act, members of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors can only be fired “for cause.”

The Supreme Court ruled that this is rooted in the Constitution and history, citing to the commitment from the Founding Fathers to ensure independence in decisions around monetary policy.

“The protection from removal enjoyed by Governors of the Federal Reserve is consistent with the Constitution,” the court ruled. “The Founders knew from experience the calamities that could arise from even the ‘suspicion’ of political manipulation of monetary policy.”

Trump’ has publicly sparred with Federal Reserve officials over his opinion that they haven’t lowered interest rates fast enough.

The Federal Reserve decide things like interest rates, which when lowered can create additional growth and slow growth when interest rates are increased. Those decisions are made to keep issues like inflation under control.

The Supreme Court’s decision does not address whether there is evidence to remove Cook “for cause,” instead finding that Cook did not receive proper procedural avenues to challenge her firing.

“Without such constraints in place, any perceived or alleged misstep (past or present) could provide a ready pretext for a Governor’s removal—a fact that he would surely know, and that would surely weigh on him as he decided what to say and how to vote,” the Supreme Court ruled. “Nothing could be more corrosive of the independence that Congress sought to preserve.”

Cook’s term on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors is set to expire in 2038.

In a post on Truth Social, President Trump maintained that they would take action in response to the Supreme Court’s decision.

“The Cook Lawsuit, having to do with her suitability in sitting on the Board of the Federal Reserve, was sent back by the Supreme Court on a strictly procedural basis, we will take appropriate action immediately to make sure that someone who has committed wrongdoing will not be making vital decisions concerning the Welfare of the United States of America!” Trump wrote.

Based on Trump’s post, it’s not clear what that action will be.