Senate Confirms Kevin Warsh as Fed Chair in Closest Vote in Modern Era
The Senate confirmed Kevin Warsh as Chairman of the Federal Reserve on May 13, 2026, in a 54-45 vote — the narrowest margin for a Fed chair in the modern era of Senate confirmations (since 1977). Warsh replaces Jerome Powell, whose term expires May 15. The confirmation came in two steps: the Senate first confirmed Warsh as a Fed Board Governor (51-45) on May 12, then as Chairman (54-45) on May 13. Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) was the only Democrat to cross the aisle in both votes; Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE) voted yes on the governor confirmation but not the chair vote. President Trump has repeatedly pressured the Fed to lower interest rates and once declared that "anybody that disagrees with me will never be the Fed Chairman." Democrats warned the confirmation would give Trump effective control over the central bank. Warsh pledged at his April 2026 hearing to be "an independent actor" and said the president never asked him to commit to any specific rate decision.