US President Donald Trump has taken aim at the Federal Reserve, criticizing its decision to lower interest rates by a quarter-point. The move, which brought the benchmark rate down to between 3.5% and 3.75%, was seen as a gesture of goodwill by the central bank in response to a weakening economy.
Trump, however, saw it as insufficient, suggesting that the Fed could have cut rates twice as much. He also took a swipe at Fed Chair Jerome Powell, describing him as a "stiff" who is too slow to respond to economic conditions. The President believes that cutting interest rates is counterproductive when the country is doing well.
The Federal Reserve's decision was announced by the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), which voted 9-3 in favor of the rate cut. While three officials dissented, Fed Governor Stephen Miran argued for a half-point reduction, while Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee and Kansas City Fed President Jeffrey Schmid preferred to keep rates unchanged.
The central bank's "dot plot" suggests that just two interest rate cuts are expected in the next few years, with another cut coming in 2027. However, some analysts believe that the FOMC may need to reconsider its stance on interest rates if economic growth slows further.
In a statement, the Fed said it would consider making additional adjustments to interest rates in the future, although this is not a new policy stance for the central bank. The FOMC's decision was seen as a moderate move, aimed at supporting economic growth without causing inflation to surge.
The move by the Federal Reserve has sparked a debate about the role of monetary policy in promoting economic growth and stability. Some argue that interest rates should be kept low to support businesses and households, while others believe that higher rates are needed to combat inflation and maintain financial stability.
Trump, however, saw it as insufficient, suggesting that the Fed could have cut rates twice as much. He also took a swipe at Fed Chair Jerome Powell, describing him as a "stiff" who is too slow to respond to economic conditions. The President believes that cutting interest rates is counterproductive when the country is doing well.
The Federal Reserve's decision was announced by the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), which voted 9-3 in favor of the rate cut. While three officials dissented, Fed Governor Stephen Miran argued for a half-point reduction, while Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee and Kansas City Fed President Jeffrey Schmid preferred to keep rates unchanged.
The central bank's "dot plot" suggests that just two interest rate cuts are expected in the next few years, with another cut coming in 2027. However, some analysts believe that the FOMC may need to reconsider its stance on interest rates if economic growth slows further.
In a statement, the Fed said it would consider making additional adjustments to interest rates in the future, although this is not a new policy stance for the central bank. The FOMC's decision was seen as a moderate move, aimed at supporting economic growth without causing inflation to surge.
The move by the Federal Reserve has sparked a debate about the role of monetary policy in promoting economic growth and stability. Some argue that interest rates should be kept low to support businesses and households, while others believe that higher rates are needed to combat inflation and maintain financial stability.