President Donald Trump swore in Kevin Warsh as the new chairman of the Federal Reserve at a White House ceremony on Friday [1].
The appointment marks a significant shift in leadership for the U.S. central bank, as Warsh replaces outgoing Chair Jerome Powell. This transition follows a Senate confirmation process that concluded in a largely party-line vote [2].
The ceremony took place Friday morning, May 22, 2026 [3], in Washington, D.C. Warsh, a former Federal Reserve official, officially assumed the role after taking the oath of office in the presence of the president [4].
This event represents a rare break in tradition for the Federal Reserve's leadership transitions. According to reports, the last time a new Fed chair was sworn in at the White House was in 1987 for Alan Greenspan [5].
Warsh enters the position at a critical juncture for the U.S. economy. His confirmation by the Senate ensures the continuity of the central bank's operations, though the partisan nature of the vote reflects broader political divisions regarding monetary policy, and the independence of the Federal Reserve [2].
The transition occurs as the administration seeks to align the central bank's objectives with its broader economic agenda. By installing Warsh, the president has selected a figure with prior experience within the Federal Reserve system to lead the nation's most powerful economic institution [4].
“President Donald Trump swore in Kevin Warsh as the new Chairman of the Federal Reserve”
The appointment of Kevin Warsh signals a potential pivot in the Federal Reserve's approach to interest rates and monetary policy. By selecting a candidate who secured a party-line Senate confirmation and holding a high-profile swearing-in ceremony at the White House, the administration is emphasizing a closer alignment between the executive branch and the central bank, potentially challenging the traditional norms of Fed independence.
