Republican Senator Thom Tillis Ends Opposition to Trump’s Fed Nominee Kevin Warsh

Republican Senator Thom Tillis has withdrawn his opposition to Donald Trump’s nominee for Federal Reserve chair, Kevin Warsh, according to two German news sources.

Senator Tillis ended his public resistance to Warsh’s nomination

Tillis, a Republican from North Carolina, had previously signaled skepticism about Warsh’s suitability to lead the U.S. Central bank. His shift removes a notable point of GOP dissent as Trump pushes to install his preferred candidate ahead of Jerome Powell’s term ending on May 15.

The Justice Department closed its investigation into Powell over renovation costs

The U.S. Department of Justice ended its criminal probe into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell on Friday, which had examined allegations of inflated expenses tied to the renovation of the Fed’s Washington headquarters. The project’s costs are now estimated at approximately $2.5 billion (€2.3 billion), prompting criticism over budget oversight.

For more on this story, see The criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell has been dropped, clearing the way for Kevin Warsh’s confirmation as his successor. The probe, which alleged $2.5 billion in excessive spending on Fed headquarters renovations, found no evidence of wrongdoing, according to District Attorney Jeanine Pirro, who announced the dismissal on April 24, 2026. Pirro noted that internal oversight would continue and warned charges could be reinstated if justified. Powell had previously broken precedent by going public with the investigation, framing it as political pressure to influence interest rate decisions. His public stance underscored his defense of the Fed’s independence amid criticism from Trump over rate policy. The timing is critical: with Republicans holding a 13–11 edge on the Senate Banking Committee, Senator Thom Tillis had tied his support for Warsh to the resolution of the probe. Now cleared, that barrier is removed. Powell’s term ends May 15, 2026; if Warsh isn’t confirmed by then, Powell may serve in an acting role. The case’s closure removes a major hurdle to leadership transition at the Fed, though questions about oversight and political influence remain..

Trump had criticized Powell for being too slow on interest rate cuts

Trump repeatedly attacked Powell, calling him a „weakling“ and a „loser,“ due to the Fed chair’s cautious approach to reducing interest rates. The investigation into Powell was reportedly initiated at Trump’s urging but has now been terminated, with an internal oversight body set to review the renovation project instead.

Why did Senator Tillis change his position on Kevin Warsh?

The sources do not specify the reasons for Tillis’s shift in stance.

What happens next with the Federal Reserve leadership?

Jerome Powell’s term ends on May 15, and Trump intends to replace him with Kevin Warsh, pending Senate confirmation.