The Political Turmoil Rocking Powell’s Leadership at the Fed

Key Points

1. Republican bureaucrats and the Trump administration are involved in efforts to undermine Powell's authority, though Trump has publicly disavowed these allegations.

2. Fitch Ratings revised the 2025 U.S. GDP growth projection from 1.2% to 1.5% but anticipates a slowdown later in the year.

3. Experts warn that the recent tax law could increase the U.S. debt-to-GDP ratio to 135% by 2029.

4. Default rates on U.S. high-yield bonds and leveraged loans are expected to rise to 4.0-4.5% later this year.

5. The political landscape and bureaucratic struggles make it difficult for Powell to ignore the pressures on his leadership.