Why is the White House holding a hearing on Fed governor Lisa Cook now? Trump explained why in July.

After the Supreme Court let Cook keep her seat while she challenges his attempt to fire her, Trump said on CNBC that the court "sent it back, not based on the merits. They sent it back on process and procedure."

"So we'll start the process, and we'll do perfect process and perfect procedure," he said.

The White House memo made public on Friday *is* that process. It sets a Nov. 5 closed-door hearing at the White House where Justice Department lawyers can question her in front of a three-member committee of Trump appointees about allegations that have yet to result in any criminal charges. The committee then recommends whether there's "cause" to remove her.

The timing is important here because the day after the White House hearing, Cook and the DOJ owe U,S. District Judge Jia Cobb a joint proposal on how her lawsuit challenging Trump's August 2025 removal effort should proceed. Cobb blocked this removal attempt last year, allowing Cook to remain on the job before the underlying dispute was adjudicated. The Supreme Court upheld that order. The underlying dispute now goes back to her.

If the committee recommends removal, Trump could fire Cook again, and DOJ would argue she has now had the chance to respond that the Supreme Court and others found lacking. Cobb, and likely the appeals courts after her, would then have to decide whether "cause" had been established. The hearing could also give the administration new material to justify a removal. Even if nothing comes of it, the spectacle of a sitting Fed governor summoned to the White House for questioning sends a message to other officials the president may not be able to fire.