President Donald Trump swore in Kevin Warsh as the new chair of the Federal Reserve during a ceremony at the White House on Friday, May 18, 2026 [1].
The appointment signals a significant shift in leadership for the U.S. central bank. Warsh replaces outgoing chair Jerome Powell, moving the institution into a new era of monetary policy under the current administration.
The event took place in Washington, D.C., where the president formally installed Warsh into the role [2]. The ceremony was notable for its location and timing, as the Federal Reserve's leadership transition typically follows a different protocol.
According to reports, the last Federal Reserve chair to be sworn in at the White House was Alan Greenspan in 1987 [3]. This departure from recent tradition highlights the administration's approach to the appointment and the visibility of the transition.
Warsh takes over the helm of the Federal Reserve at a critical juncture for the U.S. economy. His nomination by President Trump was intended to ensure a transition in leadership as Powell's term concluded [4].
The installation of a new chair is a key lever for the executive branch to influence the direction of national economic strategy, though the Federal Reserve maintains a level of independence from direct political control. The ceremony on May 18 [1] finalized the administrative process of the handover.
“President Donald Trump swore in Kevin Warsh as the new Chair of the Federal Reserve”
The appointment of Kevin Warsh represents a pivot in the leadership of the U.S. central bank. By conducting the swearing-in ceremony at the White House, the administration has emphasized the executive's role in the appointment process, breaking a decades-long precedent that had remained in place since 1987. This move may signal a desire for closer alignment between the White House and the Federal Reserve's monetary policy goals.
