BREAKING: Republican Sen. Thom Tillis has infuriated the MAGA base by declaring he will block all of Donald Trump’s Federal Reserve nominees in response to what he calls a bogus investigation targeting Fed Chair Jerome Powell. The move throws a major obstacle into Trump’s agenda. Tillis said there should now be “no question” that figures inside the Trump administration are trying to undermine the Federal Reserve’s independence, adding that the credibility and independence of the Justice Department itself are now in doubt. He made clear his stance: he will oppose every Fed nomination — including the upcoming Fed chair appointment — until the legal situation surrounding Powell is resolved. Because the Senate Banking Committee is split 13 Republicans to 11 Democrats, Tillis breaking ranks effectively freezes the confirmation process. His announcement follows a New York Times report revealing that the D.C. U.S. attorney’s office, led by Jeanine Pirro, is criminally investigating Powell over renovations to the Federal Reserve’s headquarters. Outside of hardcore MAGA loyalists, few believe the investigation has any real substance. Critics say it’s a transparent attempt to retaliate against Powell for refusing to slash interest rates. Tillis’s decision puts Trump in a bind. While the president can’t remove Powell without cause, Powell’s term expires in May, allowing Trump to name a replacement. Trump would almost certainly pick someone willing to follow his demands on rate cuts — but without Tillis’s vote, that nominee would be stuck in limbo. The move represents a direct challenge to Trump’s expanding push for control, using the Senate’s procedural power to block him at every possible step.

BREAKING: Republican Sen. Thom Tillis has infuriated the MAGA base by declaring he will block all of Donald Trump’s Federal Reserve nominees in response to what he calls a bogus investigation targeting Fed Chair Jerome Powell.

The move throws a major obstacle into Trump’s agenda.

Tillis said there should now be “no question” that figures inside the Trump administration are trying to undermine the Federal Reserve’s independence, adding that the credibility and independence of the Justice Department itself are now in doubt.

He made clear his stance: he will oppose every Fed nomination — including the upcoming Fed chair appointment — until the legal situation surrounding Powell is resolved.

Because the Senate Banking Committee is split 13 Republicans to 11 Democrats, Tillis breaking ranks effectively freezes the confirmation process.

His announcement follows a New York Times report revealing that the D.C. U.S. attorney’s office, led by Jeanine Pirro, is criminally investigating Powell over renovations to the Federal Reserve’s headquarters.

Outside of hardcore MAGA loyalists, few believe the investigation has any real substance. Critics say it’s a transparent attempt to retaliate against Powell for refusing to slash interest rates.

Tillis’s decision puts Trump in a bind. While the president can’t remove Powell without cause, Powell’s term expires in May, allowing Trump to name a replacement. Trump would almost certainly pick someone willing to follow his demands on rate cuts — but without Tillis’s vote, that nominee would be stuck in limbo.

The move represents a direct challenge to Trump’s expanding push for control, using the Senate’s procedural power to block him at every possible step.