The Supreme Court blocked Trump’s attempt to fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook

The U.S. Supreme Court has blocked President Donald Trump’s attempt to impeach the governor of the U.S. central bank in a ruling that asserted the independence of the Federal Reserve.

In a 5-4 decision, the nation’s highest court justices said the administration did not provide adequate “due process” to challenge the removal of Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook.

The ruling sends the case to the lower courts, where the administration must prove Cook committed mortgage fraud and give Cook an opportunity to contest the charges.

Cook has denied the allegations, which the Fed’s defenders say are pretexts to give Trump more control over the bank.

By law, a president can only fire Federal Reserve governors “for cause.”

That requirement was intended to insulate the bank from political pressure and help it formulate policies to pursue long-term economic goals rather than short-term interests.

During court arguments in January, Cook’s attorney, Paul Clement, said the administration’s handling of the shooting makes a “joke” of the protections Congress intended for the feds.

Trump announced Plan to remove Cook from the federation in August on social media, noting that she filed mortgage forms claiming two different primary residences at the same time. Banks offer low interest rates for principals.

Attorney General John Sauer, who argued the White House case, told the court in January that the social media post provided sufficient notice and opportunity to respond.

He described the case as “negligence” that could undermine confidence in the federation, even if it was not careless, and said the courts should defer to the president’s judgment while they look for reasons.