Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell has been publicly criticized by President Donald Trump over the central bank’s interest-rate increases in 2018 and continued shrinking of its balance sheet. Trump has said the steps will stifle the economy’s growth. Powell has avoided direct comment but has repeatedly stressed the importance of the Fed’s independence from political pressure and its commitment to transparency and accountability to Congress. Here’s a timeline of key events and comments: June 18 Bloomberg News reports the White House explored the legality of stripping Powell of his chairmanship and leaving him as a ... (full story)