White House Panel Moves Fed Governor Lisa Cook’s Hearing to Dec. 14

A White House committee examining whether President Donald Trump has cause to remove Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook has moved her hearing from Thursday, Nov. 5, to Dec. 14, a White House official said Wednesday evening, according to CNBC. The New York Times first reported the new date, Reuters said.

The official told CNBC the delay came at Cook’s request. It was not clear whether Cook would agree to attend.

The committee’s mandate

Trump created the three-member “committee of inquiry” in October to investigate allegations that Cook made false statements in connection with one or more mortgage instruments. The order published in the Federal Register directs the panel to report whether there is “cause” for her removal under the law governing Fed governors. Its members are Kevin Hassett, the president’s top economic adviser; Andrea Lucas, chair of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission; and Keith Sonderling, director of the Office of Government Ethics.

The original order set a closed, transcribed White House hearing lasting no more than four hours on Nov. 5, with a written follow-up from Cook due by Nov. 10. The panel can only recommend; any decision to fire her rests with Trump.

Cook’s objections

Cook denies wrongdoing. Her lawyer, Abbe Lowell, said last month that she could not attend on Nov. 5 because of official meetings in Europe and could not appear until after the Fed’s Dec. 8-9 policy meeting, Reuters reported. Lowell also said questions about the committee’s fairness had to be addressed before any hearing.

The Supreme Court ruled in June that Trump cannot fire a Fed governor at will but may be able to do so if she is given a chance to defend herself, according to Reuters. Trump first tried to remove Cook in August 2025. No president has ever removed a Fed governor, Reuters noted.

Sources: CNBC, Reuters, The New York Times, Federal Register.