Judge blocks DOJ subpoenas to Fed
A federal judge quashed subpoenas the DOJ issued to the Federal Reserve, temporarily shielding Fed documents and testimony in an active probe — the ruling limits compelled disclosure for now and raises separation‑of‑powers questions video. Legal analysts say the decision preserves central‑bank autonomy, but markets may face uncertainty if oversight battles continue.
Chief U.S. District Judge James [Boasberg wrote]politico.com in an opinion unsealed March 13, 2026 that the subpoenas’ dominant purpose was “to harass and pressure” Fed Chair Jerome Powell and that the government had produced “essentially zero evidence” of criminal conduct. U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine [Pirro announced]politico.com at a March 13 press conference that the Justice Department will appeal, calling the decision “outrageous” and vowing to continue the grand‑jury inquiry. The subpoenas, issued in January, targeted documents tied to the Federal Reserve’s roughly $2.5 billion headquarters renovation and Powell’s testimony to the Senate Banking Committee, Bloomberg [reported here]bloomberg.com. Sen. Thom Tillis [has vowed]politico.com to block confirmation of President Trump’s nominee Kevin Warsh until the investigation is closed, a stance that legal filings say could leave Fed leadership and the chairmanship unsettled as Powell’s term expires in May 2026.
