U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said he will begin interviewing 11 candidates for Federal Reserve chair in the days immediately before and after Labor Day, aiming to trim the list and present a smaller slate to President Donald Trump. In a CNBC interview on 19 Aug., Bessent described the contenders as “an incredible group,” noting they span current and former Fed officials as well as private-sector economists. The timetable accelerates the White House’s search for a successor to Chair Jerome Powell, whose term runs until May 2026. Bessent reiterated the administration’s preference for easier monetary policy, arguing that lower borrowing costs could spur homebuilding and temper future inflation. The Fed holds its next policy meeting on 16-17 Sept., when investors widely anticipate the first rate cut since December 2024.