Fed

• Pengadilan banding federal telah membatalkan injungsi pengadilan tingkat rendah yang sebelumnya memerintahkan pemerintahan Trump untuk memulihkan aliran hibah federal ke beberapa pemerintah daerah, membuka kembali miliaran dolar pendanaan yang sempat ditahan. • Keputusan ini menyusul perselisihan mengenai bagaimana pemerintahan menafsirkan syarat-syarat yang melekat pada hibah federal, dengan kota-kota berargumen bahwa penahanan tersebut merupakan bentuk retaliasi politik. • Putusan ini dapat memengaruhi bagaimana pemerintahan di masa depan dalam mensyaratkan bantuan pada kepatuhan kebijakan, serta memiliki implikasi bagi federalisme dan otonomi daerah.

• Pemerintahan Trump mengumumkan daftar calon baru untuk memimpin beberapa dewan federal dan dana perwalian, termasuk satu yang akan mengawasi upacara penghargaan budaya utama tahun ini, menurut pengumuman dari White House. • Pilihan tersebut mencakup sekutu politik dekat dan komentator konservatif, memperkuat pola Trump dalam menempatkan loyalis pada peran pengawasan yang mengelola hibah, dana abadi, dan lembaga-lembaga publik. • Partai Demokrat dan beberapa pengawas tata kelola pemerintahan yang baik telah menyuarakan kekhawatiran bahwa penunjukan ini dapat menyuntikkan kriteria partisan ke dalam program-program yang secara tradisional bersifat nonpartisan.

• Harga minyak melonjak di tengah konflik Iran-AS yang mengancam pasokan global, namun saham AS tetap tangguh di dekat level tertinggi sepanjang masa yang didorong oleh pendapatan kuat dari Visa dan Starbucks pada 29 April 2026. • S&P 500 turun tipis 0,1%, Dow turun 286 poin atau 0,6%, Nasdaq naik 0,1%; saham Visa melonjak 8,3% karena pengeluaran konsumen yang tangguh menurut CEO Ryan McInerney, Starbucks naik 8,6% dengan pengeluaran per kunjungan yang lebih tinggi di Amerika Utara. • Pejabat Federal Reserve mengisyaratkan tidak ada pemangkasan suku bunga pada tahun 2026, hampir menghilangkan spekulasi investor dan cenderung mendukung kenaikan bunga karena inflasi dari harga energi; pasar obligasi bergejolak.

• Delegasi kongres DC berusia 88 tahun, Eleanor Holmes Norton, merespons dengan tegas terhadap ancaman federal paling serius bagi pemerintah kota dalam 30 tahun terakhir dari Trump. • Norton, yang didukung oleh sekutu Muriel Bowser, menganggap tindakan Trump sebagai kemenangan politik bagi kendali lokal. • Kebuntuan ini menggarisbawahi perebutan kekuasaan yang sedang berlangsung antara tata kelola federal dan DC.

• Seorang hakim federal menolak gugatan Departemen Kehakiman yang meminta akses ke data pendaftaran pemilih Arizona, dengan keputusan yang memenangkan negara bagian tersebut. • Kasus ini melibatkan klaim mengenai daftar pemilih yang tidak akurat, namun pengadilan menemukan bukti yang tidak cukup untuk melanjutkan tuntutan pemerintahan Trump. • Putusan ini melindungi privasi data pemilih negara bagian dan dapat berdampak pada debat integritas pemilu yang sedang berlangsung menjelang pemilihan tengah periode 2026.

• Federal Reserve memutuskan untuk membiarkan suku bunga acuan federal funds rate tidak berubah pada kisaran 3,5% hingga 3,75% pada hari Rabu, dengan alasan kekhawatiran atas kenaikan inflasi di tengah perang di Iran. • Hal ini menandai kelanjutan dari jeda penyesuaian suku bunga Fed setelah tiga kali pemotongan masing-masing 25 basis poin secara berturut-turut pada September, Oktober, dan Desember 2025. • Ketua Fed Jerome Powell dijadwalkan untuk mengadakan konferensi pers pada pukul 14.30 ET guna membahas keputusan tersebut, yang kemungkinan menjadi pengumuman suku bunga terakhirnya sebagai ketua Federal Reserve.

• Pejabat Fed menyebutkan inflasi yang tinggi, lambatnya pertumbuhan lapangan kerja, dan ketidakpastian di Timur Tengah sebagai alasan untuk mempertahankan suku bunga. • Federal Reserve AS membiarkan suku bunga tidak berubah setelah rapat dewan terbaru, sekali lagi mengabaikan seruan Donald Trump untuk melakukan pemangkasan saat bank sentral bersiap menghadapi perombakan kepemimpinan bulan depan. • Pada hari Rabu, pejabat Fed terus menekankan bahwa inflasi yang tinggi, pertumbuhan lapangan kerja yang lambat, dan ketidakpastian di Timur Tengah menjadi alasan mengapa suku bunga tidak diubah.

• Sebuah komite Senat bersiap untuk memajukan pilihan Trump di saat keraguan masih menyelimuti independensi Fed dan masa depan Powell. • Kevin Warsh, pilihan Donald Trump untuk memimpin Federal Reserve, dijadwalkan akan melewati hambatan prosedural utama pada hari Rabu, membuka jalan baginya untuk menggantikan Jerome Powell dalam beberapa minggu mendatang di tengah upaya Gedung Putih yang belum pernah terjadi sebelumnya untuk menjalankan kendali atas bank sentral terkuat di dunia. • Komite perbankan Senat dijadwalkan akan memberikan suara pada pukul 10 pagi EDT (1400 GMT) untuk memajukan nominasi Warsh ke Senat penuh yang dikendalikan oleh Partai Republik.

• Mayoritas warga Amerika menyatakan keprihatinan atas kenaikan biaya kesehatan dan mendukung peningkatan pengeluaran pajak federal untuk mengatasi tantangan tersebut, menurut Axios/Ipsos American Health Index yang dirilis pada 17 Maret 2026. • Jajak pendapat tersebut menunjukkan dukungan bipartisan terhadap tindakan pemerintah mengenai keterjangkauan layanan kesehatan, mencerminkan kekhawatiran luas di kalangan publik AS tentang biaya medis yang melonjak. • Warga Amerika juga menunjukkan peningkatan kepercayaan terhadap penanganan pemerintah dalam keputusan vaksinasi anak, yang menandakan kepercayaan publik yang lebih luas terhadap intervensi kebijakan kesehatan.

Federal raids unfold in Twin Cities amid ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and Minnesota officialsSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxFederal agents under the command of the Trump administration have descended on Minnesota’s Twin Cities again to primarily target alleged fraud at daycares after the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s so-called “Operation Metro Surge” all but wound down earlier in the year.“Today the FBI with federal, state and local law enforcement is involved in court-authorized law enforcement activity as part of an ongoing fraud investigation,” the US justice department told the Guardian in a statement on Tuesday. Continue reading...

Exclusive: State government commits to strengthening laws as Higgins labels Albanese government’s response to women’s safety issues ‘disheartening’Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe Victorian government will strengthen laws regarding the use of victim-survivors’ confidential communications after a push by advocates including Brittany Higgins, who described her experience of having counselling records subpoenaed as a “violation”.In an interview with Guardian Australia, Higgins was also critical of the federal government’s lack of action following a sweeping review into the justice system’s responses to sexual violence, saying it had “completely fallen off the agenda”.Information and support for anyone affected by rape or sexual abuse issues is available from the following organisations. In Australia, support is available at 1800Respect (1800 737 732). In the UK, Rape Crisis offers support on 0808 500 2222. In the US, Rainn offers support on 800-656-4673. Other international helplines can be found at ibiblio.org/rcip/internl.html Continue reading...

• The Federal Reserve released minutes from its April 16 policy meeting, revealing internal division over the appropriate timeline for interest rate cuts, with several governors questioning whether inflation has declined sufficiently to warrant near-term reductions. • Hawks on the committee expressed concern that premature rate cuts could reignite price pressures, while doves argued that pausing at 5.5% risks unnecessarily constraining growth and employment, setting the stage for a contentious May 2 vote. • Market reactions to the minutes were mixed, with bond futures pricing in only a 28% probability of a rate cut by July 2026, down from 35% before the release, while equity index futures declined 0.6% on expectation of extended higher rates.

• U.S. stock futures fell late Sunday with Dow Jones Industrial Average futures down 130 points or 0.3%, S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq-100 futures also declining after record highs on Friday. • West Texas Intermediate crude futures rose 2% above $96 per barrel following collapsed U.S.-Iran talks announced Saturday. • The Federal Reserve's interest-rate committee meets Tuesday-Wednesday, with Chair Jerome Powell's likely final press conference anticipated amid market highs.

• The Department of Justice dropped its criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Powell regarding the agency's building expenditures, marking a significant development in federal oversight. • The decision came amid broader discussions on Capitol Hill about federal accountability, with both Republican and Democratic representatives weighing in on the implications. • The outcome reflects shifting priorities in federal investigations and debates over Fed governance and spending practices.

• The Department of Justice has dropped its investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, marking a significant policy shift. • The decision comes amid Trump's emergency economic orders, potentially easing tensions over Fed independence. • This move is viewed as stabilizing financial markets but criticized by conservatives seeking accountability on monetary policy.

The injunction pauses policy giving senior Trump official direct sign-off on federal clean energy projectsA federal judge in Massachusetts on Tuesday struck down several Trump administration actions slowing down development of clean energy, including a requirement that all solar and wind energy projects on federal lands and waters be personally approved by the interior secretary, Doug Burgum.Denise J Casper, chief judge of the US district court for Massachusetts, ruled that a coalition of plaintiffs representing wind and solar developers were likely to succeed on the merits of their claims that the administration’s actions violate federal statute and will cause irreparable harm if the court did not intervene. Continue reading...

Kevin Warsh, Trump’s ‘central casting’, has a long road ahead of convincing board members to lower interest ratesDonald Trump’s fate is to be frustrated by monetary policy.Even assuming he gets his way and Kevin Warsh succeeds Jerome Powell as chair of the Federal Reserve next month, it is unlikely that the president will finally gain control of the Fed. Continue reading...

• The president requires congressional approval to extend a 30-day federal takeover of unspecified operations beyond the initial period. • Lawmakers from both parties debate the scope, with costs projected at millions in taxpayer funds. • Extension could set precedent for future interventions, raising federalism concerns among states.

• 88-year-old congressional delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton is leading a back-seat response to the most serious federal threat to D.C.’s government in 30 years. • The challenge targets local autonomy, echoing Muriel Bowser's conflicts with Trump policies. • Victory for D.C. allies could preserve home rule amid national partisan divides.

• Kevin Warsh, President Trump's nominee for Federal Reserve Chair, testifies in his first Senate Banking Committee hearing at 1400 GMT on April 21, 2026, facing questions on Fed independence amid Trump's pressure to cut rates. • Warsh advocates reducing the Fed's balance sheet, conflicting with recent resumption of regular Treasury purchases in December 2025. • The hearing addresses hot topics like Fed autonomy and potential rate cuts, with USD firming after Monday's rally rejection.

Former Wall Street banker faces questions at confirmation hearing – but his biggest backer is also his biggest liabilityOn the face of it, Kevin Warsh looks like an ideal candidate to chair the Federal Reserve, the world’s most important central bank. The 56-year-old Ivy League economist, former Wall Street banker and presidential adviser ticks all the boxes. Unfortunately for Warsh, as he faces what could be a fraught nomination hearing, his biggest backer is also his biggest liability.In his second term, Donald Trump has attacked the Fed in a manner both unprecedented and unseemly. He has called current chair Jerome Powell – whom he also appointed – a “jerk”, “a stubborn MORON”, and repeatedly threatened to fire him. Continue reading...

The hearing marks a key hurdle Kevin Warsh must overcome in order to succeed Jerome Powell when his term ends on 15 MayHello and welcome to the US politics live blog.President Donald Trump’s choice to lead the Federal Reserve will commit to protecting central bank independence on interest rates at a crucial confirmation hearing later today.Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Donald Trump’s labor secretary, resigned from her role with the administration. She said it was “an honor and a privilege to serve” to serve and that she would take on a job in the private sector. The departure came after she became entangled in a string of political and personal controversies. Democrats celebrated, writing “this administration is imploding”.Chuck Schumer, the Senate minority leader, called for Kash Patel’s immediate resignation following a report from the Atlantic detailing the FBI director’s alleged excessive drinking and absences. Patel has sued the magazine for defamation with his attorneys calling the article a “sweeping, malicious, and defamatory hit piece”.Donald Trump signed memorandums related to coal supply chains, natural gas and grid infrastructure on Monday. The president invoked the Defense Production Act in the energy-related memos, writing that increasing energy production is “essential to United States national defense”.The crowded field of Democratic candidates in the California’s governor’s race appears to be narrowing as Betty Yee — a former state controller— announced Monday she planned to end her campaign. Meanwhile, the California Democratic party chair Rusty Hicks continued to urge candidates trailing in the polls to exit the race. Continue reading...

Jose Serrano, a sergeant, said Deisy Rivera Ortega, his wife, was arrested at an immigration appointmentA US army sergeant with 27 years of military service – including deployment to Afghanistan – has said that federal immigration agents recently arrested his wife during an appointment at an El Paso, Texas, immigration office.In an interview with CBS News published Monday, Sgt First Class Jose Serrano said that Deisy Rivera Ortega, a Salvadoran and his wife, was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers under the command of the Trump administration despite receiving legal protection in 2019 that bars her from being deported to El Salvador. Rivera Ortega, who wed Serrano in 2022, has been in the US since 2016, he said. Continue reading...

• President Donald Trump is backing Kevin Warsh as his preferred candidate for Federal Reserve chair, intensifying pressure on current Fed Chair Jerome Powell amid ongoing policy disagreements. • Republican Senator Kevin Cramer discussed the timeline for the CLARITY Act and Trump's strategy to reshape Federal Reserve leadership during an appearance on 'Mornings with Maria.'

Democratic lawmakers urged Republican leaders to postpone the confirmation hearing of Kevin WarshSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxDemocrats have moved to stall Donald Trump’s effort to exert greater control over the US Federal Reserve, condemning the president’s “absurd” bid to install a new leader of the central bank while it is targeted with criminal investigations.Democratic lawmakers on the Senate banking committee urged its Republican leadership on Thursday to postpone the planned confirmation hearing for Kevin Warsh, the financial executive and former Fed governor Trump has nominated to replace Jerome Powell as Fed chair. Continue reading...

Design among projects before US Commission of Fine Arts as lawsuits challenge scale and impactDonald Trump’s design for the triumphal arch he wants built at an entrance to the US capital comes up for a review and possible vote on Thursday by a key federal agency. It is one of several projects the US president is pursuing alongside a White House ballroom to leave his lasting footprint on Washington.Trump said on social media that the arch “will be the GREATEST and MOST BEAUTIFUL Triumphal Arch, anywhere in the World” and a “wonderful addition to the Washington D.C. area for all Americans to enjoy for many decades to come!”. Continue reading...

• President Donald Trump threatened to fire Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell if he remains at the helm after his term ends next month. • Trump framed the move as part of efforts to align the central bank with his administration's economic agenda amid ongoing policy tensions. • The statement escalates executive pressure on the independent Fed, potentially destabilizing financial markets and sparking debates over central bank autonomy.