According to the Financial Times, US President Donald Trump and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will hold final interviews with candidates for the position of Chairman of the Federal Reserve System (FRS) in the next two weeks. The final round of interviews is expected to begin this week, and Kevin Hassett remains the frontrunner for the job, with a 73% chance of being appointed.

Candidates for the position

According to sources, Bessent provided Trump with a list of five candidates, including:

- Kevin Hassett — Director of the National Economic Council and the frontrunner for the position.
- Kevin Warsh — Former member of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors.
- Christopher Waller — Member of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors.
- Michelle Bowman — Vice Chairman for Supervision.
- Rick Rieder — Chief Information Officer of BlackRock Fixed Income.

Trump and Bessent are scheduled to meet with Warsh on December 10, with another interview expected next week. Officials are seeking to narrow the field of candidates, as the president previously announced his intention to announce the next Fed chair in January 2026.

Trump's Preferences

According to sources, Trump is leaning toward Hassent. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, he noted:

>>>> "We'll be considering several different candidates, but I have a pretty good idea of who I want in that position." <<<<

Furthermore, the White House has already discussed a possible replacement for Hassent in his current position. Bessent is expected to chair the Board, while retaining his position at the Treasury.

In Conclusion

The situation surrounding the selection of a new Fed chair remains tense, and a final decision will be made in the coming weeks. The appointment of a new head of the regulator could have a significant impact on US financial policy and global markets.