Kevin Warsh Becomes Fed Chair After Unanimous FOMC Vote
Kevin Warsh formally assumed the role of Federal Reserve Chair, taking the oath of office and receiving unanimous backing from the Federal Open Market Committee. Warsh steps into the position as inflation remains elevated and the FOMC faces internal division. The Fed has held rates at 3.50%–3.75% through its most recent meeting. The White House has grown critical of the central banks cautious posture. A Confirmation Built on Narrow Margins The Senate confirmation vote passed 54-45 this month, the narrowest approval margin for any Fed chair in US history. President Donald Trump nominated Warsh on March 4, 2026. His term as chair runs through May 2030, with his board seat extending to January 2040. Kevin Warsh takes oath of office as chairman and a member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, and the Federal Open Market Committee unanimously selects Warsh as its chairman: https://t.co/IwPeodDfUw — Federal Reserve (@federalreserve) May 22, 2026 Warsh previously served as a Fed governor from 2006 to 2011 under Chair Ben Bernanke. During the 2008 crisis, he helped coordinate the Bear Stearns sale to JPMorgan Chase, the Lehman Brothers proceedings, and the AIG rescue. After departing the board, he spent years as a fellow at Stanfords Hoover Institution