美联储独立性危机引爆！特朗普“查”鲍威尔欲意何为？

Core Viewpoint - The investigation into Powell has raised global concerns about the independence of the Federal Reserve, with strong condemnation from former Fed chairs, Treasury secretaries, and economists against Trump's interference [1][4]. Group 1: Federal Reserve Independence - The independence of the Federal Reserve is considered a cornerstone of the stability of the U.S. financial system, designed with multiple "firewalls" to ensure its autonomy [12]. - Trump's actions have broken longstanding norms, as no previous president has openly threatened to dismiss Fed officials or initiate criminal investigations against them [13]. - The recent political pressure on the Fed has led to public skepticism regarding the fairness of law enforcement, particularly with the Justice Department's investigations targeting Trump's political opponents [14]. Group 2: Political Pressure and Implications - Trump has been pressuring Powell to lower interest rates, indicating a desire to control the Fed's interest rate decisions, which directly influence the U.S. economy [11]. - The upcoming Federal Reserve meeting on January 27-28 is expected to maintain current interest rates, with a 97.2% probability of no rate cut, despite Trump's pressure [15]. - Analysts warn that politicizing the Fed could undermine its policy autonomy, increase inflationary pressures, and weaken the dollar's status as a reserve currency, potentially leading to higher borrowing costs [15]. Group 3: Investigation Background - The investigation was triggered by the renovation project of the Fed's Washington headquarters, which saw costs escalate from an initial budget of $1.9 billion to approximately $2.5 billion due to unexpected increases in labor and material costs [6]. - Trump has accused Powell of mismanagement and suggested fraudulent behavior without evidence, using the renovation project as a basis for his claims [7][9]. - The White House criticized the project for including "luxurious facilities," which Powell has denied, asserting that the criticisms are merely a pretext to exert pressure on interest rate decisions [8][9].