Fed Chair frontrunner Waller advocates a moderate pace of rate cuts, pledges to emphasize independence to Trump

BlockBeats News, December 17, one of the final candidates for the next Federal Reserve Chair and current Governor, Waller, stated on Wednesday that the current job market is "very weak" and job growth is "not optimistic," so the Federal Reserve still has room to cut interest rates. He supports further rate cuts to bring the central bank's rate setting back to a neutral level, while also stating that policymakers do not need to rush to do so.

He expressed full confidence in stable inflation expectations and dismissed concerns that price pressures might accelerate again. When asked by a CNBC reporter whether he would emphasize the Federal Reserve's independence during an interview with Trump, Waller replied, "Of course I would."

Trump often comments on the Federal Reserve's decisions, accusing the Fed of cutting rates too slowly. He has issued harsh criticism of the current Fed Chair Powell, whom he personally selected, and has publicly stated that he considered firing Powell before his term ended.

Waller was appointed by Trump and confirmed by the Senate to join the Federal Reserve Board at the end of 2020. Since the beginning of this year, he has become one of the strongest advocates for rate cuts within the Fed. The Federal Reserve has cut rates by 25 basis points at each of the past three meetings. Waller previously voted against rate cuts in July, urging for a reduction, but policymakers at the time chose to keep rates unchanged.