#沃什出任美联储主席提名受阻 Warsh's nomination failed, Federal Reserve chair position may be vacant.

On March 12, 2026, Federal Reserve Chair Powell's term will end on May 15, but his successor Kevin Warsh's nomination has stalled due to opposition from Republican Senator Thilis. Thilis refuses to advance any Federal Reserve nominations, citing the Department of Justice's ongoing criminal investigation into Powell, causing Warsh's nomination to be blocked in the Senate Banking Committee. The current situation is:

1 Procedural deadlock: In the Senate Banking Committee, although Republicans hold 13 seats (Democrats 11), Thilis's opposition prevents Warsh's nomination from gaining majority support. If the deadlock persists, there may be a vacancy in the chair position after Powell steps down.

2 Investigation controversy: The Department of Justice is investigating Powell's testimony regarding the Federal Reserve building renovation project. Thilis views this as political pressure and insists that nominations not be approved until the investigation concludes, to protect Federal Reserve independence.

3 Time pressure: Powell's chair term has only 65 days remaining. Even if the committee passes the nomination, it still requires a full Senate vote, and the timeline is tight. If not confirmed in time, the Vice Chair may temporarily serve as Chair.

4 Market impact: Warsh is viewed as a rate-cut supporter. The stalled nomination increases monetary policy uncertainty and may affect inflation expectations and market stability.

5 Bipartisan positions: All Democrats oppose Warsh, viewing the nomination as Trump's attempt to control the Federal Reserve; Republicans are divided due to Thilis's "defection," highlighting the politicization of Federal Reserve independence disputes.

Therefore, market forecasts predict a significantly lower probability of rate cuts!