The federal banking agencies have proposed on May 19, 2026 the most significant overhaul of the CAMELS supervisory rating system in nearly 30 years, signaling a major philosophical shift in bank supervision under the Trump Administration. The proposal, issued by the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (“FFIEC”), would revise the Uniform Financial Institutions Rating System (“UFIRS”) to place greater emphasis on material financial risks and less emphasis on process-oriented supervisory criticisms.… Continue Reading
Federal Reserve Board
Warsh to be sworn in as Fed Chair on May 22
Kevin Warsh will be sworn in as the new Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board on May 22. He replaces Jerome Powell.
Warsh was confirmed on a 55-45 roll call vote on May 13. All Republicans and one Democrat, Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa. voted in favor of the nomination. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y.,… Continue Reading
Fed requests comment on plan to remove reputation risk from supervision of banks
The Federal Reserve is requesting comments on a proposal to remove reputation risk from the supervision of banks it oversees. Comments on the Fed proposal are due April 27, 2026.
“We have heard troubling cases of debanking—where supervisors use concerns about reputation risk to pressure financial institutions to debank customers because of their political views, religious beliefs, or involvement in disfavored but lawful businesses,” Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle W.… Continue Reading
Supreme Court Hears Arguments Regarding President Trump’s Attempt to Remove Lisa Cook from the Fed Board of Governors
The U.S. Supreme Court recently heard oral arguments in Trump v. Cook, involving the issue of whether the President may remove Lisa Cook as a member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve Board. Board Members may be removed “for cause,” and the President has cited alleged mortgage fraud as the basis for the removal of Cook as a Board Member.… Continue Reading
CFPB Funding Issues Seem to be Coming to a Head
As we have previously reported, a lawsuit was brought early this year by the unions representing CFPB employees against Acting CFPB Director Vought and the CFPB in the DC District Court.
The Court months ago enjoined the CFPB from terminating some 1,400 employees and taking certain other actions in pursuit of Vought’s goal of minimizing the CFPB while the lawsuit is pending.… Continue Reading
Three non-profit organizations represented by Public Citizen Litigation group open up new front in war against the CFPB
On December 5, 2025, Rise Economy, the National Reinvestment Coalition and the Woodstock Institute filed a lawsuit against the CFPB and its Acting Director Russell Vought in the Federal District Court for the Northern District of California (San Francisco) seeking declaratory and injunctive relief related to Vought’s determination not to seek funding from the Federal Reserve Board because of an opinion provided to the CFPB by the Office of Legal Counsel of the Department of Justice (“OLC”) that it would be unlawful for the CFPB to make such a request based on there being no “combined earnings of the Federal Reserve System.”… Continue Reading
Supreme Court allows Lisa D. Cook to remain as member of the Fed until at least January
Despite President Trump’s efforts to fire her, the Supreme Court has ruled that Lisa D. Cook can remain on the Federal Reserve Board at least until the court hears oral arguments in January 2026.
The administration had asked the Supreme Court for a stay of a preliminary injunction issued by the U.S.… Continue Reading
Trump says Lisa D. Cook was properly removed from Fed for misconduct
President Trump correctly removed Lisa D. Cook from the Federal Reserve Board for improperly claiming on mortgage applications that residences in Michigan and Georgia both were her primary residences, the Trump Administration said in a brief filed with the Supreme Court.
“Following the statute, President Trump duly removed respondent Lisa Cook for ‘deceitful and potentially criminal conduct in a financial matter’ that renders her unfit to serve on the Nation’s preeminent financial policymaking and regulatory body—a quintessential cause for removal,” Solicitor General D.… Continue Reading
Cook says allowing Trump to fire her from Fed would destroy Fed independence
Allowing President Trump to fire Lisa D. Cook from the Fed would “signal to the financial markets that the Federal Reserve no longer enjoys its traditional independence, risking chaos and disruption,” Cook told the Supreme Court, in her opposition for a stay in her case.
“For decades, the Board’s insulation from direct presidential control has allowed the American markets and economy to thrive,” she wrote, adding, “the legislative record is abundantly clear that Congress did not mean for Federal Reserve Board governors to serve at the President’s pleasure.”… Continue Reading
Trump asks Supreme Court to let him fire Lisa D. Cook from Fed
President Trump is asking the Supreme Court to allow him to fire Lisa D. Cook from the Federal Reserve Board.
“This application involves yet another case of improper judicial interference with the President’s removal authority—here, interference with the President’s authority to remove members of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors for cause,” Solicitor General D.… Continue Reading