Fed Officials Reappoint Powell as Chair, Minutes Say

In the recently concluded Federal Reserve meeting in January 2026, the Committee unanimously re-elected Jerome H. Powell as Chair and John C. Williams as Vice Chair. Despite a 4.4% unemployment rate and a Q4 growth slowdown partially linked to a government shutdown, the Fed opted to maintain the federal funds rate, balancing a 2.8% core inflation rate against a resilient economy. The Fed also reaffirmed its commitment to managing its $3 trillion reserve levels and monitoring high asset valuations in the technology sector. While risks like tariffs and geopolitical tension persist, the Committee remains focused on returning inflation to its objective while supporting solid economic growth throughout 2026.