CAN THE PRESIDENT FIRE THE FED CHAIR? - NICK TIMIRAOS Jerome Powell says no: “Our independence is a matter of law.” But legal experts say it’s unclear. The law allows Fed governors to be removed “for cause,” typically meaning misconduct or neglect — not policy disagreements. Trump has challenged similar limits before and might try again. If he did, it would likely end up in the Supreme Court, as there's no clear legal precedent. The key case is Humphrey’s Executor (1935), which protects regulatory officials from being fired over policy. If that precedent is overturned, the Fed chair could become more vulnerable. So far, courts haven’t ruled directly on whether a president can fire the Fed chair — so it remains a legal gray area.