The Dividend Cafe
The Dividend Cafe
The Bahnsen Group
The Myth of an Independent Fed
21 minutes Posted May 29, 2026 at 6:30 pm.
Intro to Today's Topic
Warsh Pick and Market Reaction
Why Fed Independence Matters
Trump Quote on Independence
Fed Origins and Legal Structure
Why Monetary Policy Is Political
Crisis Coordination Examples
Do We Want Independence
Congress Oversight and Reform
Warsh Expectations and Fed Fixes
Conclusion
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Show notes
Today's Post - https://bahnsen.co/4wQ3FUF
From the Reagan Library during a week of speeches, David Bahnsen discusses the politicized debate over Federal Reserve independence following Kevin Warsh’s confirmation as Fed chair and the recent Trump–Powell conflict. He argues the Fed is not constitutionally independent: Congress created it in 1913, set its mandate (including via Humphrey-Hawkins), requires semiannual reporting, and presidents appoint governors who serve staggered terms and cannot be fired without cause. Bahnsen notes monetary policy is inherently political because it affects prices, employment, and government borrowing, and he cites historical Fed–Treasury coordination in the 1990s crises, 2008 (TARP/AIG), and 2020 (CARES Act). He calls for Congress to clarify the Fed’s legal structure and increase oversight, supports practical independence from political pressure, and criticizes both election-driven rate cuts and Phillips-curve-driven tightening.
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TheBahnsenGroup.com