Trump Pressures Fed for Rate Cuts, Senator Lee Proposes Abolishing Central Bank

President Trump has recently made statements about the Federal Reserve, and Senator Mike Lee has proposed legislation to abolish the central bank. These developments suggest potential changes in monetary policy that could significantly impact Bitcoin's role in the financial system.

On March 20, 2025, President Trump urged the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates in response to its decision to keep rates steady amid escalating tariffs. This public critique of the Fed is unusual, but it aligns with Trump's previous comments, including calling Fed Chair Jerome Powell and his team “boneheads” during his first term. These ongoing critiques raise questions about the Fed’s future independence, which is traditionally protected from political pressure to prevent inflationary boom-bust cycles.

The current administration is seeking to consolidate power across government agencies through executive orders that assert greater “Presidential supervision and control” over independent agencies. This could potentially challenge the long-established firewall between political interests and monetary policy decisions. Trump intensified his calls for rate cuts on March 21, claiming that prices of essential goods like eggs, groceries, and gasoline have decreased, creating an opportunity for the central bank to implement cuts. He wrote on Truth Social: “The Fed would be MUCH better off CUTTING RATES as U.S. Tariffs start to transition (ease!) their way into the economy.” This pressure comes as the administration plans to introduce new reciprocal tariffs on April 2, which Trump called “Liberation Day in America.”

Professor Vasso Ioannidou of Bayes Business School warned that political interference could erode market confidence, potentially increasing volatility and undermining economic stability. Yet, the US market appears to be buoyed by something as the Nasdaq is currently up 0.53% in premarket ahead of a new week of trading.

Meanwhile, Senator Mike Lee’s legislative push adds another layer to the discussion. Lee advocates for the complete abolition of the Federal Reserve, arguing that the Fed has become an “economic manipulator.” Lee introduced the Federal Reserve Board Abolition Act alongside Representative Thomas Massie. Although the bill faces significant challenges, its introduction highlights a growing political willingness to reconsider the structure of U.S. monetary governance.

These moves coincide with the administration’s new digital asset strategy. Trump’s executive order establishing a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve elevates Bitcoin to a strategic national asset comparable to gold. The administration plans to build this reserve through criminal asset forfeitures, pledging to retain the holdings permanently, thereby reducing significant selling pressure in the market. Additional purchases may happen through budget deficit strategies, which could include using gold or revenue from the Gold Card visa program. Bo Hines, leading the Presidential Working Group on Digital Assets, revealed plans to significantly expand the Bitcoin reserve, using a cost-neutral approach potentially funded by revaluing gold certificates untouched since 1971.

Historically, presidential involvement in monetary policy isn’t unprecedented. Nixon’s pressure on Fed Chair Arthur Burns in 1972 led to policies contributing to severe inflation throughout the 1970s. Similarly, President Johnson’s influence on Fed Chair William Martin highlighted how political agendas have historically impacted monetary policy to the economy’s detriment. Trump’s advocacy for lower interest rates and increased monetary oversight aligns with his administration’s embrace of Bitcoin. This dual focus on reshaping monetary policy and promoting Bitcoin suggests a coordinated approach to repositioning U.S. monetary strategy.

If Lee’s efforts to eliminate the Fed progress, Bitcoin could increasingly serve as a decentralized monetary alternative, resonating particularly during times of financial uncertainty or political interference. Bitcoin’s inherent decentralization and resistance to centralized control uniquely position it as a counterbalance to politically influenced monetary policy. The convergence of Trump’s monetary critiques and strategic Bitcoin initiatives may represent more than political posturing and could signal a significant shift toward integrating Bitcoin into the broader economic framework. This dual strategy could reshape market perceptions, drive institutional adoption, and solidify Bitcoin’s role from a speculative asset to a foundational component of U.S. financial reserves and monetary policy.