Listen to the article
Powell Conducts Congressional Outreach Blitz Following DOJ Criminal Probe Announcement
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell orchestrated a rapid series of congressional outreach efforts in January after the Justice Department opened a criminal probe into his statements to Congress, according to his recently released calendar.
Powell made 13 calls to senators and House members shortly after publicly accusing the DOJ of using subpoenas as a “pretext” to increase pressure on the central bank to cut interest rates. These brief calls, each lasting between 10 and 15 minutes, represent an unusually concentrated effort to engage with lawmakers during a single week.
The Fed releases Powell’s monthly schedule with approximately a two-month lag, providing this new insight into his response strategy. While the calendar doesn’t reveal the content of these discussions, the timing is significant — immediately following his January 11 disclosure about the DOJ investigation.
Powell’s contacts included Republican Senators Lisa Murkowski, Shelley Moore Capito, Mark Warner, Bill Cassidy, John Kennedy, Mitch McConnell, Mike Crapo, James Lankford, and Tim Scott. He also reached out to Democratic Representatives Joyce Beatty, Maxine Waters, Steny Hoyer, and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. Additionally, Powell scheduled a breakfast meeting with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on January 15, just four days after the investigation became public.
While Powell has established a reputation for maintaining more direct communication with lawmakers than his predecessors, the week of January 11 stands out as exceptional. The last time he contacted this many legislators in a single week was February 2025, ahead of his semiannual congressional testimony, when such preparation calls are routine.
The Justice Department’s investigation centers on Powell’s June 2025 testimony to lawmakers regarding the Federal Reserve’s $2.5 billion renovation of its two historic main buildings on the National Mall. During that testimony, Powell told the Senate Banking Committee: “There’s no new marble. There are no special elevators. They’re old elevators that have been there. There are no new water features. There are no beehives, and there’s no roof garden terraces.”
He further explained that nobody “wants to do a major renovation of a historic building during their term in office,” attributing cost overruns to unexpected construction challenges and inflation.
In response to the DOJ probe, Powell took the unusual step of releasing a video statement calling the investigation “unprecedented” and characterizing it as part of President Donald Trump’s broader pressure campaign to force interest rate cuts. This public response marked a departure from Powell’s typically measured approach and followed days of private consultations with advisors.
The renovation project has become a frequent target for President Trump, who has threatened legal action and criticized both the cost and design elements. “They’re building a basement into the Potomac River. I could have told them. That’s very tough to do, and it doesn’t work, and it’s very expensive,” Trump said in November, referring to Powell as “this clown.”
It’s worth noting that the Federal Reserve is self-financing and does not rely on congressional appropriations for its operating expenses, which include the renovation. The central bank generates income primarily through interest earned on government securities and fees charged to financial institutions.
Powell, who was initially nominated by Trump to lead the Fed in 2017, is expected to complete his term at the end of May. Trump has selected former Fed governor Kevin Warsh as Powell’s replacement, but the nomination faces obstacles. Senator Thom Tillis has pledged to block any Federal Reserve nominees while the DOJ investigation remains open, effectively stalling the confirmation process.
The Federal Reserve declined to comment on Powell’s calendar when contacted for this story.
Fact Checker
Verify the accuracy of this article using The Disinformation Commission analysis and real-time sources.
9 Comments
This report provides a glimpse into Powell’s response strategy following the DOJ probe announcement. The timing and scale of his outreach efforts seem unusual, and I’m curious to understand the motivations and goals behind this concentrated engagement with lawmakers.
The Fed’s independence is crucial, so any perception of political interference or undue influence is concerning. Powell’s congressional contacts raise questions about how he is protecting that independence in light of the DOJ investigation.
Thirteen calls to senators and House members in a single week is certainly a notable level of activity for the Fed Chair. I wonder what prompted this concentrated effort to engage with lawmakers so quickly after the DOJ probe was revealed.
This report provides an interesting window into Powell’s actions in the wake of the DOJ probe. I’m curious to see if any further details emerge about the substance of his conversations with lawmakers and what he may have been aiming to accomplish through this outreach blitz.
Interesting development regarding Chair Powell’s actions following the DOJ probe announcement. I’m curious to learn more about the nature of his outreach efforts and whether they were intended to build support or address any specific concerns.
The timing of Powell’s calls is certainly noteworthy, coming right after the DOJ probe was made public. While the content of the discussions is not known, the scale and pace of his outreach efforts are unusual. It will be important to understand the full context here.
While the specific content of Powell’s discussions is not known, the timing and scope of his congressional contacts are noteworthy. It will be important to see if any additional details emerge about the nature of these interactions and what Powell may have been seeking to accomplish.
As the central bank chief, Powell has to balance maintaining the Fed’s independence while also engaging with lawmakers. These congressional contacts following the DOJ investigation announcement raise questions about how he is navigating that dynamic in this situation.
This seems like a concerning situation for the Fed’s independence. Powell’s swift congressional outreach suggests he may have felt pressure to respond to the DOJ probe in a proactive manner. I wonder what the lawmakers’ reactions were during those calls.