Senate 49‑44 Vote Advances Trump‑Backed Fed Warsh
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- Senate voted 49‑44 to advance Kevin Warsh’s nomination to the Federal Reserve Board, setting up a confirmation vote before Jerome Powell’s term ends on Friday.
- John Fetterman (D‑PA) and Chris Coons (D‑DE) were the only Democrats to cross the aisle, while no Republicans opposed the motion.
- Kevin Warsh, a former Fed governor (2006‑2011) known as an inflation hawk, had his nomination stalled earlier by Sen. Thom Tillis pending the closure of a Justice Department investigation into Powell and the Fed.
- Thom Tillis later signaled he would back Warsh once the investigation was confirmed closed.
- John Fetterman expressed frustration with his party’s direction, citing shifts on issues like Israel, border security and government shutdowns, and has previously backed other Trump nominees.
Why it matters: The Senate’s 49‑44 vote clears the path for Kevin Warsh, a Trump‑backed inflation hawk, to replace Jerome Powell, giving the administration a foothold on monetary policy while demonstrating that a few Democrats can tip a partisan balance.
