The US Senate confirmed Kevin Warsh as a governor of the Federal Reserve with a vote of 51 to 45 on May 12, 2026. This decision paves the way for an anticipated vote regarding his nomination as chair of the central bank, which is expected to occur this week.
Democratic Senator John Fetterman was the only member to break party lines during the vote. Warsh will serve a 14-year term as a Fed governor, following his previous tenure under Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama from 2006 to 2011. The upcoming vote for the chair position follows a motion to invoke cloture, indicating a swift progression in the nomination process.
Current Fed chair Jerome Powell's term concludes on Friday, amid ongoing tensions regarding his position from President Donald Trump. Concerns about the Fed's independence and potential market impacts due to leadership changes have been raised, particularly in light of discussions around interest rate policies.