Overview
- The finalists are Michelle Bowman, Christopher Waller, Kevin Hassett, Kevin Warsh and Rick Rieder, according to senior Treasury officials.
- Treasury will conduct further rounds of interviews with participation from senior Treasury and White House aides, with the process likely stretching past Thanksgiving due to scheduled travel and IMF/World Bank meetings.
- Bessent intends to send a smaller list to the president, and officials say a nominee could be put forward for a Federal Reserve seat by January with potential later elevation to chair.
- Christopher Waller said his interview with Bessent went well and was focused on economics rather than politics, while betting markets currently favor Kevin Hassett with Waller second.
- Bessent is seeking a candidate open to revisiting the Fed’s mission and tools; officials say Rieder has impressed, and the high-profile vetting continues as the Lisa Cook removal fight heads to the Supreme Court in January.