Congress to Question Powell Next Week on Fed’s Next Move

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell is set to appear before Congress next week for the first time in seven months, facing questions about monetary policy at a critical juncture.

The testimony, scheduled before the Senate Banking Committee and House Financial Services panel, follows the Fed’s decision to maintain rates at 4.25%-4.5% after implementing 100 basis points in cuts across three meetings last year.

Powell’s stance on cautious policy movement has gained unified support from Fed officials, with analysts expecting no rate changes until the second half of the year. The political context has shifted favorably, with President Trump now backing the Fed’s pause, while market attention focuses on upcoming employment data that could influence future monetary policy decisions.

The January jobs report, expected to show 169,000 new positions with steady 4.1% unemployment, could reinforce the Fed’s current position.