The Senate on the 15th (local time) passed the confirmation of Steven Myron, a close aide to U.S. President Donald Trump, as a Federal Reserve (Fed) governor.
According to the AP and others, Myron's confirmation passed the Senate floor that day by a vote of 48-47. All Democrats voted against it, and among Republicans only Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska opposed it.
Before the vote, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said, "Myron has no independence whatsoever and will only serve as Trump's mouthpiece at the Fed."
Myron will fill the remainder of former Governor Adriana Kugler's term through January next year. He has said he will keep his current post as Chairperson of the White House Council of Economic Advisers (CEA).
As Myron is set to attend the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting of the Fed on the 16th-17th to discuss whether to cut the benchmark interest rate, the White House's influence over the Fed is expected to grow further.
Meanwhile, an appeals court ruled that Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, whom President Trump dismissed, can keep her board seat for the time being. Cook will therefore be able to attend the FOMC meeting that sets the benchmark rate.
Earlier, President Trump notified Cook of her dismissal by raising allegations of mortgage fraud, but the court found that the alleged conduct occurred before Cook served as a Fed governor and thus did not constitute sufficient grounds for removal.
The Trump administration immediately appealed, but the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit again ruled in favor of Cook that day. The Trump administration is expected to take the case to the Supreme Court promptly.