Pro Login

Trump Could Nominate Jerome Powell's Replacement For Fed Chair Next Week

A stylized illustration of a cylindrical cup with blue arrows and lines indicating a swirling or rotational motion inside the cup.
Published Jan 20, 2026
Share:
A desk with stacked books, a lamp, a clock, a gavel, and the U.S. Capitol building visible through the window—plus a subtle nod to Fed Chair Jerome Powell; BriefsFinance logo in lower right corner.
Summary:

  • President Trump may announce his pick for the next chair of the Federal Reserve as soon as next week, according to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
  • The nomination process has narrowed from 11 candidates to four finalists after extensive discussions.
  • Current Fed Chair Jerome Powell's term ends in May 2026, but he can remain a governor until 2028.

Trump's Upcoming Nomination

During an interview at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that President Donald Trump could nominate the next chair of the Federal Reserve as early as next week.

This announcement follows months of speculation and political discussions surrounding the future leadership of the Fed.

Final Candidates Narrowed Down

Bessent shared that the nomination process has significantly narrowed, going from 11 candidates in September to four finalists. Trump has personally met with all four candidates, indicating a thorough selection process.

The candidates have not been officially named, but previous discussions have included National Economic Council director Kevin Hassett, former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh, current Governors Christopher Waller and Michelle Bowman, and BlackRock's chief fixed income strategist, Rick Rieder.

Current Chair's Term and Future

Current Fed Chair Jerome Powell's term is set to expire in May 2026. However, Powell has the option to continue serving as a governor until 2028.

This flexibility could play a role in the upcoming nomination and the direction the Fed will take moving forward.

Accountability and Independence at the Fed

Bessent highlighted the importance of the Fed's monetary policy independence but stressed that accountability is equally crucial.

He mentioned that, under Powell's leadership, between four to six Fed officials have resigned due to ethical issues. This raises questions about the institution's accountability, especially when compared to private sector standards.

Potential Candidates and Market Predictions

Prediction markets currently favor several candidates for the Fed chair position, with Kevin Hassett, Kevin Warsh, and Christopher Waller emerging as front-runners.

White House officials have indicated that Rieder has also garnered interest from Trump, adding to the competitive nature of the nomination process. Bessent did not express a personal preference for any candidate, focusing instead on the rigorous selection process undertaken by the president.

What This Means Moving Forward

The decision on the next Fed chair will have significant implications for U.S. monetary policy and the economy.

As the nomination process unfolds, investors and market watchers will closely monitor the situation, especially given the recent criticisms of Powell's leadership. The outcome of this nomination is expected to influence interest rates and overall economic strategies in the coming years.

Disclosure

Get Market Briefs delivered to your inbox every morning for free!

No fluff. No noise. No politics. Just finance news you can read in 5 minutes.

Blogs

April 15, 2026
What Is a Put Option? A Simple Guide for Investors
  • A put option is a contract that gives you the right to sell a stock at a set price before a set date.
  • Investors use put options to protect their portfolio against losses or to profit when they think a stock will drop.
  • The most you can lose when buying a put option is the premium you paid for the contract.
Read More
April 13, 2026
What Is Free Cash Flow? How To Find It & Why It's Important
  • Free cash flow is the cash a company has left after paying its bills and putting money back into the business.
  • Investors use free cash flow to figure out what a company is really worth - and if the stock is a good deal.
  • You can find free cash flow on a company's cash flow report, one of three key reports every public company files.
Read More
April 13, 2026
Non Taxable Income: What It Is and Why Investors Care

Non taxable income is money you earn that the IRS does not tax - like Roth IRA cash, muni bond interest, and certain investment gains. The U.S. tax code taxes workers, investors, and business owners at very different rates. Tools like Roth accounts, muni bonds, and real estate write-offs can help you keep more of what you earn.

Read More
April 11, 2026
Nasdaq Index Fund: A Beginner's Guide to Investing in the Nasdaq 100
  • A Nasdaq index fund lets you invest in the 100 biggest non-bank companies on the stock market all at once.
  • You can access the Nasdaq through index funds, mutual funds, or ETFs like QQQ - each with its own fees, trading rules, and style.
  • Picking the right Nasdaq index fund comes down to three things: who runs it, what is in it, and what it costs.
Read More
April 11, 2026
What Is Wealth? It's Not What Most People Think
  • Wealth is about owning assets that grow and pay you - not just earning a high salary.
  • In a capitalist system, there are two ways to get paid: from your labor and from your capital.
  • Building wealth takes a shift in mindset, a money system, and the habit of investing before you spend.
Read More
April 10, 2026
Micron Stock: The AI Memory Play Most Investors Are Missing
  • Micron (MU) is the only U.S. company that makes HBM chips - the short-term memory layer that AI systems need to run.
  • By early 2026, data centers were using about 70% of all memory chips made in the world, creating an 18-month backlog for new orders.
  • Micron's DRAM - or short-term memory chip - revenue jumped 69% year over year, and the company shifted away from consumer products to focus almost entirely on AI.
Read More
April 10, 2026
What Is Working Capital? What Investors Need To Know
  • Working capital is current assets minus current liabilities - it shows if a business can pay its short-term bills.
  • You find it on a company's balance sheet inside its 10-K report.
  • Changes in working capital show up on the cash flow statement and affect how much cash a business really makes.
Read More
April 9, 2026
What Is a Meme Stock? A Simple Guide for New Investors

You've probably heard the term "meme stock" thrown around on […]

Read More
April 9, 2026
Enterprise Value Formula: What It Is and How to Calculate It
  • Enterprise value (EV) shows what a company is really worth - debt and cash included - not just its stock price
  • The enterprise value formula is: Market Cap + Total Debt - Cash and Cash Equivalents
  • Investors use EV with metrics like EBITDA to compare stocks more fairly than market cap alone
Read More
April 8, 2026
Return on Equity: What It Is and How to Use It
  • Return on equity (ROE) measures how much profit a company earns for every dollar of shareholder equity
  • The formula is simple: net income divided by shareholder equity
  • A higher ROE can signal a company that is good at turning investor money into profit - but it is not the full picture
Read More
1 2 3 17
Share via
Copy link