2026年4月21日 / 美国东部时间上午11:28 / 哥伦比亚广播公司新闻
作者：艾米·皮奇
曾被特朗普总统提名为接替杰罗姆·鲍威尔担任美联储主席的凯文·瓦尔什，在周二的参议院确认听证会上作证称，美联储在制定货币政策方面将保持“严格独立性”。
瓦尔什的开场声明发布之际，特朗普曾多次批评鲍威尔未能以更快速度降息。与此同时，鲍威尔始终坚持美联储的利率及其他政策决策应基于经济数据，抵制民选官员的政治压力。
“货币政策独立性至关重要，”瓦尔什在参议院银行委员会作证时表示，“我将致力于确保货币政策的制定始终保持严格独立。”
近几周来，美联储独立性议题愈发紧迫，伊朗冲突推高了美国能源价格，将通胀推至近两年来最快增速。
从鹰派转向鸽派？
近几个月来，瓦尔什已暗示支持美联储下调基准利率，认为人工智能可以通过提升经济生产力帮助抑制物价——这与他2006年至2011年担任美联储理事会理事期间对通胀的“鹰派”立场相比，是一次“鸽派”转向。
“在今日的听证会上，我们将关注瓦尔什是i）坚持其鸽派倾向，还是ii）承认供应冲击叠加对物价稳定构成的风险，”美国银行经济学家阿迪亚·巴夫和斯蒂芬·朱诺在4月21日的一份研究报告中写道。
马萨诸塞州民主党参议员伊丽莎白·沃伦批评瓦尔什近期在通胀和利率问题上的立场，称其观点似乎是为了迎合特朗普的支持。
“参议院不应通过任命特朗普的傀儡，来协助和教唆他接管美联储，”沃伦说道。
在开场声明中，瓦尔什暗示他愿意在某些事务上听取白宫的意见。
“我同样致力于在美联储职权范围内的非货币政策事务上，与本届政府和国会合作，”他在声明中写道。
特朗普与利率政策
瓦尔什被问及是否可能受到白宫施压以降低利率。路易斯安那州共和党参议员约翰·肯尼迪询问特朗普是否曾要求瓦尔什承诺未来降息。
“总统从未要求我预先决定、敲定或做出任何利率决策，我也绝不会这么做，”瓦尔什回应道，“我听过他对利率的看法——这听起来和我研究过的经济史上每位总统的观点都非常相似。”
“如果获确认为美联储主席，我将作为独立决策者行事，”他补充道。
鲍尔夫离职时间不明
瓦尔什的提名需获得24名成员组成的参议院银行委员会多数票支持，才能提交至参议院全院投票，全院通过也仅需简单多数票。
尽管市场普遍预计瓦尔什将获确认接任将于5月15日任期届满的鲍威尔，但北卡罗来纳州共和党参议员汤姆·蒂利斯是一个潜在障碍，他此前曾表示，在司法部完成对鲍威尔的调查之前，他不会批准这项提名。
如果参议院无法在下个月前确认瓦尔什的提名，目前尚不清楚谁将执掌美联储。鲍威尔曾表示，只要司法部的调查仍在进行，他将继续以理事身份留在美联储。
Kevin Warsh testifies that the Federal Reserve will remain “strictly independent”
April 21, 2026 / 11:28 AM EDT / CBS News
By Aimee Picchi
Kevin Warsh, President Trump’s nominee to replace Jerome Powell as chair of the Federal Reserve, testified at his Senate confirmation hearing on Tuesday that the central bank will remain “strictly independent” in setting monetary policy.
Warsh’s opening statement comes after Mr. Trump has repeatedly criticized Powell for not cutting interest rates at a faster pace. At the same time, Powell has steadfastly maintained that the Fed’s interest rate and other policy decisions should be based on economic data, while resisting political pressure from elected officials.
“Monetary policy independence is essential,” Warsh told the Senate Banking Committee. “I am committed to ensuring that the conduct of monetary policy remains strictly independent.”
The issue of Fed independence has grown more pressing in recent weeks, as the Iran war has driven U.S. energy prices higher, pushing inflation to its fastest pace in almost two years.
Hawk to dove?
In recent months, Warsh has signaled support for cutting the Fed’s benchmark interest rate, suggesting that AI could help keep prices down by accelerating economic productivity — a “dovish” pivot from his former “hawkish” views on inflation during his tenure as a Federal Reserve board governor from 2006 to 2011.
“In today’s hearing, we will be curious to see whether Warsh i) sticks to his dovish bias, or ii) acknowledges the risks to price stability from the layering of supply shocks,” wrote Bank of America economists Aditya Bhave and Stephen Juneau in an April 21 research note.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a Democrat from Massachusetts, criticized Warsh’s recent stance on inflation and interest rates, saying that his views seem tailored to win Mr. Trump’s approval.
“The Senate should not be aiding and abetting Mr. Trump’s takeover of the Fed by installing his sock puppet,” Warren said.
In his opening statement, Warsh signaled he’s willing to listen to the White House on some matters.
“I am equally committed to working with the Administration and Congress on non-monetary matters that are part of the Fed’s remit,” he wrote.
Trump and interest rates
Warsh faced questioning about whether he might be pressured by the White House to lower interest rates. Sen. John Kennedy, a Republican from Louisiana, asked whether Mr. Trump has asked the nominee to commit to future cuts.
“The president never asked me to predetermine, fix or decide on any interest rate decision, nor would I ever do so,” Warsh responded. “I’ve heard his view on interest rates — it sounded very similar to every other president in economic history I’ve studied.”
“I will be an independent actor if confirmed as chair of the Federal Reserve,” he added.
Powell exit timing unclear
A majority of the 24-member Senate Banking panel must vote in favor of Warsh’s nomination to advance it to the full Senate for a vote, with approval in the chamber also requiring a simple majority.
While Warsh is widely expected to be confirmed to succeed Powell, whose term expires on May 15, one potential roadblock is Sen. Thom Tillis, a Republican from North Carolina, who previously said he wouldn’t approve the nomination until the Department of Justice concludes an investigation into Powell.
It’s unclear who will run the central bank if the Senate is unable to confirm Warsh by next month. Powell has said he plans to remain at the Fed in his role as a governor as long as the DOJ probe continues.
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