President Donald Trump removed Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook from office late Monday, posting a letter on his Truth Social account that said her dismissal was “effective immediately.” The president cited his authority under Article II of the Constitution and the Federal Reserve Act, and sent a copy of the letter to Fed Chair Jerome Powell. Trump said he acted after a criminal referral from Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte alleged that Cook made false statements on mortgage applications by declaring two different properties as her primary residence in 2021. Calling the conduct “deceitful and potentially criminal,” he argued the episode undermined public confidence in the central bank. Cook last week rejected calls to resign, saying she would not be “bullied” and would respond to any legitimate questions about her finances. The Justice Department has said it is reviewing the referral. The move is unprecedented: no president has previously fired a sitting member of the Federal Reserve Board in the institution’s 111-year history. Legal scholars expect Cook to challenge the action, noting that the law limits removals to cases established “for cause,” a standard that has never been tested in court. If the dismissal stands, Trump would gain an additional seat to fill on the seven-member board, potentially reshaping Fed policy at a time when he is pressing for faster interest-rate cuts and greater presidential influence over the central bank.