{"id":2534656,"date":"2026-01-13T06:14:01","date_gmt":"2026-01-13T11:14:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-dealt-blows-over-powell-inquiry-amid-rising-tensions-with-congress\/"},"modified":"2026-01-13T06:15:04","modified_gmt":"2026-01-13T11:15:04","slug":"trump-dealt-blows-over-powell-inquiry-amid-rising-tensions-with-congress","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-dealt-blows-over-powell-inquiry-amid-rising-tensions-with-congress\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump dealt blows over Powell inquiry amid rising tensions with Congress"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ftrump-dealt-blows-over-powell-inquiry-amid-rising-tensions-with-congress%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2534656&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A DOJ criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell has prompted rare,bipartisan Republican rebukes and threatens to stall future Fed confirmations. Senators including John Thune and Thom Tillis say they may block any Fed nominees until the inquiry ends; with a 13-11 GOP majority on the Senate Banking Committee, a single Republican can effectively derail nominees. Powell called the probe politically driven and tied it to frustration over the Fed&#8217;s refusal to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/breitbart-business-daily-the-rumble-and-the-ruble-how-the-wests-sanctions-on-russia-strengthen-the-ruble-and-threaten-globalization\/\" title=\"Breitbart Business Daily: The Rumble and the Ruble\u2014How the West\u2019s Sanctions on Russia Strengthen the Ruble and Threaten Globalization\">cut interest rates<\/a> to satisfy former President Trump. house and Senate Republicans &#8211; including centrist voices like Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, plus critics such as Kevin Cramer and Cynthia Lummis &#8211; warned the investigation risks politicizing the Fed and undermining its independence. The inquiry centers on allegations about powell&#8217;s testimony regarding overruns on a $2.5 billion Fed headquarters renovation and <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >includes grand jury subpoenas<\/a> to the Fed.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Trump dealt GOP blows over Powell inquiry amid rising tensions with Congress<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2389046\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>The Department of Justice&rsquo;s <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4414264\/doj-criminal-investigation-jerome-powell\/\">criminal investigation<\/a> into Federal Reserve Chairman <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/jerome-powell\">Jerome Powell<\/a> has unleashed a flurry of rare rebuke from congressional Republicans and rebellion that could torpedo future Senate confirmations to the nation&rsquo;s independent central bank.<\/p>\n<p>The saga marks the latest in a string of recent breaks from President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">Donald Trump<\/a> by members of his own party as he approaches the one-year mark of his second term, with GOP lawmakers bucking him just days ago on further <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4411547\/five-senate-republicans-broke-with-trump-venezuela-war-powers\/\">military action in Venezuela<\/a>, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/4412144\/house-republicans-vote-enhanced-obamacare-subsidies\/\">reinstating expired Obamacare subsidies<\/a>, and the desire to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4413573\/trumps-foreign-policy-threatens-grip-congressional-republicans\/\">take Greenland<\/a> by force.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4415499\/mark-kelly-powell-investigation-weaponization\/\">Kelly points to &#8216;pattern&#8217; of persecution amid Powell investigation and Hegseth suit<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4414759\/mary-peltola-campaign-puts-lisa-murkowski-tough-endorsement-spot\/\">Peltola campaign puts Murkowski in tough endorsement spot<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/healthcare\/4414614\/louisiana-attorney-general-headline-senate-abortion-pill-hearing\/\">Louisiana attorney general to headline Senate abortion pill hearing<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;I think it&rsquo;s really important that it get resolved quickly and that there not be any appearance of political interference with the Fed or its activities,&rdquo; said Senate Majority Leader <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/john-thune\/\">John Thune<\/a> (R-SD), warning of &ldquo;challenging&rdquo; confirmations ahead under the cloud of an investigation.<\/p>\n<p>Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/thom-thillis\/\">Thom Tillis<\/a> (R-NC) is vowing to wield his power on the chamber&rsquo;s Banking Committee to thwart any of Trump&rsquo;s future Fed nominees until the DOJ inquiry concludes, which is based on allegations from Trump and administration officials that Powell may have lied to the panel in testimony last year about a renovation of the Federal Reserve&rsquo;s Washington headquarters.<\/p>\n<p>Powell, in an extraordinary video statement, rebuked the investigation as &ldquo;a consequence&rdquo; of the Fed not <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/white-house-pressures-senate-gop-on-passing-rescissions-bill\/\" title=\"White ... pressures Senate GOP on passing rescissions bill\">lowering interest rates fast<\/a> enough to satisfy Trump&rsquo;s long-running demands for more drastic rate cuts.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;If you want to make interest rates go up instead of go down, I can&rsquo;t think of a better way than to have the Federal Reserve get into a pissing contest with the Executive Branch of government,&rdquo; said Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA), a Banking Committee member.<\/p>\n<p>Powell was nominated as Fed chairman by Trump in 2017 and is just months away from no longer leading the independent agency tasked with managing U.S. monetary policy. But with a 13-11 GOP majority on Banking, any one Republican can effectively block Trump&rsquo;s desired replacement or any other openings. Discharging a deadlocked nominee out of committee would require 60 votes in the full chamber, something Republicans lack.<\/p>\n<p>Tillis, who is not seeking reelection this year, said he&rsquo;ll &ldquo;oppose the confirmation of any nominee for the Fed &mdash; including the upcoming Fed Chair vacancy &mdash; until this legal matter is fully resolved.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) listens as U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer testifies before the Senate Finance Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, April 8, 2025. (AP Photo\/Mark Schiefelbein)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>House Republicans also <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/finance-and-economy\/4414982\/gop-chairman-french-hill-defends-jerome-powell-break-from-trump\/\">piled on the criticism<\/a>, including from Finance Services Committee Chairman French Hill (R-AR), whose panel has jurisdiction over Powell and the Fed. Hill defended Powell as a &ldquo;man of integrity with a strong commitment to public service,&rdquo; adding that criminal charges could &ldquo;undermine&rdquo; the agency&rsquo;s independence and create &ldquo;an unnecessary distraction.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), a centrist duo, said they had recent conversations with Powell. Murkowski denounced the investigation as &ldquo;nothing more than an attempt at coercion.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/finance-and-economy\/4414982\/gop-chairman-french-hill-defends-jerome-powell-break-from-trump\/\">GOP CHAIRMAN ISSUES DEFENSE OF POWELL IN BREAK WITH TRUMP<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Even longtime critics of Powell who closely align themselves with Trump, such as Sens. Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), expressed concerns about the DOJ&rsquo;s actions. The Fed recently received grand jury subpoenas related to Powell&rsquo;s testimony last year, according to his video statement, which included remarks to senators that overruns for a $2.5 billion Fed headquarters renovation were due to unexpected construction costs and inflation.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Believe me, Chairman Powell and I have had big differences since I got here from day one, and it&rsquo;s been a really challenging relationship,&rdquo; Lummis told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>. &ldquo;But I just haven&rsquo;t seen the type of intent that would warrant use of a criminal statute.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><em>Zach Halaschak and Rachel Schilke contributed to this report.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Powell probe deepens GOP rift with Trump<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3108,"featured_media":2534657,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/AP25098575894832.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[45406,70784,32319,36902,70783],"class_list":["post-2534656","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-congressional-oversight","tag-congressional-tensions","tag-donald-trump","tag-political-investigation","tag-powell-inquiry"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/AP25098575894832.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2534656","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3108"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2534656"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2534656\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2534660,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2534656\/revisions\/2534660"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2534657"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2534656"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2534656"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2534656"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}