Overview
- Waller urged a 25 basis-point cut at the July 29–30 meeting, warning that delaying policy easing could leave the Fed behind the curve.
- He cited significant slowing in growth alongside elevated risks to the labor market as grounds for preemptive action.
- He said inflation pressures from President Trump's tariffs are transitory and should not deter a rate reduction.
- Chair Jerome Powell and most FOMC members prefer to hold rates steady pending more data on inflation and growth.
- President Trump has escalated public pressure for lower rates and threatened to fire Powell over the hold on policy.