Crypto & Forex March 13, 2026 0 Comments

Why the Fed Chair Dodging DOJ Subpoenas Could Rewrite the Rules of Wall Street Power Plays—Here’s What You Need to Know Now

Ever wonder what happens when the courtroom drama lands smack dab in the middle of our nation’s economic heartbeat? Well, buckle up, because the recent ruling tossed out subpoenas aimed squarely at Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell — and it’s stirring the pot in a way that feels more like a political thriller than your average financial headline. US District Judge James Boasberg’s decision dealt a serious setback to Jeanine Pirro’s investigation, which questioned Powell’s congressional testimony about the Fed’s renovation project. But here’s the kicker: Powell claims this probe is just a smokescreen for ongoing pressure from former President Trump to nudge the Fed toward lowering interest rates — a move that could shake the foundation of the central bank’s independence. It’s a classic twist of power plays mixing with monetary policy, leaving us all wondering—can the Fed truly stay neutral when the spotlight’s this bright? Let’s dig into the layers of this story, where justice, politics, and economic strategy collide. LEARN MORE

An article of the Wall Street Journal mentioned that a Federal Judge threw out a pair of subpoenas that the Justice Department issued to the Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.

The US District Judge James Boasberg, in a decision unsealed Friday, ruled the subpoenas were improper, a blow to the US Attorney Jeanine Pirro’s criminal investigation versus Powell.

Pirro, a longtime Trump ally, began an investigation into whether Powell gave false testimony before the Congress last summer about the Federal Reserve’s renovation project. Powell responded publicly on January 11, saying the probe was a pretext for Trump’s continued pressure on the Fed to lower interest rates and compromise its independence.

Fed FAQs

Monetary policy in the US is shaped by the Federal Reserve (Fed). The Fed has two mandates: to achieve price stability and foster full employment. Its primary tool to achieve these goals is by adjusting interest rates.
When prices are rising too quickly and inflation is above the Fed’s 2% target, it raises interest rates, increasing borrowing costs throughout the economy. This results in a stronger US Dollar (USD) as it makes the US a more attractive place for international investors to park their money.
When inflation falls below 2% or the Unemployment Rate is too high, the Fed may lower interest rates to encourage borrowing, which weighs on the Greenback.

The Federal Reserve (Fed) holds eight policy meetings a year, where the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) assesses economic conditions and makes monetary policy decisions.
The FOMC is attended by twelve Fed officials – the seven members of the Board of Governors, the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, and four of the remaining eleven regional Reserve Bank presidents, who serve one-year terms on a rotating basis.

In extreme situations, the Federal Reserve may resort to a policy named Quantitative Easing (QE). QE is the process by which the Fed substantially increases the flow of credit in a stuck financial system.
It is a non-standard policy measure used during crises or when inflation is extremely low. It was the Fed’s weapon of choice during the Great Financial Crisis in 2008. It involves the Fed printing more Dollars and using them to buy high grade bonds from financial institutions. QE usually weakens the US Dollar.

Quantitative tightening (QT) is the reverse process of QE, whereby the Federal Reserve stops buying bonds from financial institutions and does not reinvest the principal from the bonds it holds maturing, to purchase new bonds. It is usually positive for the value of the US Dollar.