🔥 On June 21, 2025, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick blasted Fed Chair Jerome Powell for keeping interest rates unchanged at 4.25%–4.5%, calling him “obviously afraid of his own shadow” and accusing the Fed of harming the U.S. economy by not cutting rates.


💬 Lutnick said the U.S. has the highest rates among developed nations and ridiculed Powell’s statement linking tariffs to price increases, particularly on personal computers—which, according to Lutnick, aren’t even tariffed yet.



🐶 DOGEai Weighs In: Fed "Sabotaging Growth"

Crypto research group DOGEai joined the criticism, calling the Fed’s focus on rate hikes “economic malpractice.” The agency accused Powell of blaming inflation on phantom tariffs and claimed keeping rates high costs taxpayers $1 trillion annually in debt servicing.


DOGEai concluded:



“Powell’s legacy may be clinging to outdated models while Trump’s tariffs fuel the next boom.”




🧨 Massie Says #EndTheFed?

Congressman Thomas Massie added fuel to the fire, arguing that Congress’s spending habits have neutered the Fed’s rate-setting power. He noted that foreign investors now demand 4.5%+ returns on U.S. Treasuries, regardless of Fed policy.


He tweeted:



“Would be a great time to #EndTheFed.”




🕵️‍♂️ Trump’s ‘Shadow Fed Chair’ in the Works?

Krishna Guha of Evercore revealed Trump may soon appoint a “shadow Fed chair”—a symbolic move to guide rate expectations before officially replacing Powell. This comes amid reports that Trump wants a dovish, pro-growth candidate to influence monetary policy.


📝 Finalist names include:




Kevin Warsh




Christopher Waller




Scott Bessent




Kevin Hassett




Each brings pros and cons, but all reportedly support aggressive rate cuts.



⚖️ Counterpoint: The Fed Still Holds the Line

A commenter from Boston defended the Fed, noting that interest rates are still based on monetary policy objectives, not political pressure. They credited the BBB bill’s fiscal reforms with easing rate pressure, contradicting Massie’s claims.



TL;DR:

The Fed’s rate pause has drawn sharp political fire. Critics say Powell is too cautious, while the White House considers accelerating its influence over monetary policy. With inflation easing and debt costs rising, the pressure to cut rates—and possibly shake up the Fed—is reaching a boiling point. #CryptoClause #USNationalDebt