The White House has established a committee to investigate Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook over allegations of false statements on mortgage documents, a process designed to comply with a Supreme Court ruling that blocked her earlier removal. President Donald Trump initiated the effort to remove Cook in August 2025, citing accusations he has maintained for over a year. That attempt led to a legal dispute that ended in June 2026, when the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that Cook had not been given adequate time to respond to the allegations. The new committee serves as the procedural mechanism for the White House to provide Cook an opportunity to advocate for her position.
According to a notice dated October 7, 2026, and released by the administration on Friday, Cook is scheduled to appear before the committee at the White House on November 5, 2026. The hearing is limited to four hours and will be closed to the public, though a transcript will be produced. Cook must submit a written statement to the committee at least three days before the hearing. During the session, she is permitted to present argument, written evidence, and written witness statements regarding the evidence and allegations. Lawyers from the Department of Justice will question her.
The committee includes three White House staffers, among them National Economic Council director Kevin Hassett. Hassett was previously identified as one of Trump's top candidates to replace Jerome Powell as Federal Reserve Chair, a role that ultimately went to Kevin Warsh. Following the hearing, the White House expects Cook to submit another written statement. The committee will then make a recommendation to Trump on whether there is adequate cause to remove her from her post.
The administration’s pursuit of Cook’s removal saw a resurgence in August 2026, when she received a letter stating that Trump was once again considering terminating her. This second attempt granted Cook 21 days to respond. On August 26, her attorneys submitted a letter to the White House denying that she committed mortgage fraud. The White House alleged that Cook designated homes in Atlanta and Michigan as her primary residence on separate mortgage agreements and subsequently rented out the Atlanta property. Cook's attorney characterized the Atlanta designation as an inadvertent mistake, arguing that she sought financing for that property as a vacation home and consistently identified her Michigan residence as her primary or permanent home.