The U.S. Supreme Court on June 29 denied the administration’s request to stay a lower-court order in Trump v. Cook, leaving in place a preliminary injunction that keeps Federal Reserve Governor Lisa D. Cook in office while the case continues.
The Court said the government had not shown a sufficient likelihood of success for a stay. It pointed to the Federal Reserve Act’s for-cause removal protection and 14-year term structure, concluding that before an attempted removal can be treated as valid, a governor must receive at least an explanation of the basis or evidence being invoked, an opportunity to respond, and a deadline for that response.
The ruling did not fully define what qualifies as cause under the statute. The Court also said preserving the status quo during litigation was less disruptive than allowing a contested removal to take effect before the case is resolved.
Cook was confirmed to a full term on Sept. 6, 2023. President Donald Trump sent a removal letter on Aug. 25, 2025 stating that the removal was effective immediately, and Cook sued on Aug. 28, 2025. Justice Clarence Thomas dissented. In a separate June 29 decision in Trump v. Slaughter involving the Federal Trade Commission, the Court overruled Humphrey’s Executor in that context, while the Cook order left the Federal Reserve dispute to proceed on a narrower procedural basis.