Tillis drops his blockade on Kevin Warsh’s confirmation after the DOJ closes its Powell probe
Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina announced Sunday that he is prepared to support the confirmation of Kevin Warsh as the next Federal Reserve Chair, bringing an end to a blockade he had placed on the nomination over concerns that the Justice Department was using a criminal investigation into current Fed Chair Jerome Powell as a political instrument. The announcement, made during an interview on NBC’s Meet the Press with moderator Kristen Welker, removes one of the most significant obstacles standing between Warsh and a confirmed path to leading the nation’s central bank.
What changed Tillis’s position
Tillis had made his blockade conditional on the closure of the DOJ’s investigation into Powell, and that condition was met on Friday when the Justice Department announced it would not be moving the case forward. The public announcement came with a notable qualifier, however, leaving open the possibility that the inquiry could be revived under certain circumstances. That caveat prompted Tillis to pursue additional assurances directly from the DOJ before committing to a yes vote.
Following a series of private discussions with Justice Department officials over the weekend, Tillis said he was satisfied that the investigation is fully and completely closed. He was told that an active appeal in the case is limited strictly to challenging administrative legal questions surrounding earlier subpoenas and carries no implications for the underlying investigation. The only mechanism by which a new inquiry could be opened, Tillis was assured, would be a formal criminal referral from Inspector General Horowitz. With those guarantees secured, Tillis confirmed his support for Warsh and expressed confidence the confirmation could be completed by May 15.
Fed independence at the center of it all
The core of Tillis’s concern throughout the standoff was the principle of Federal Reserve independence. He made clear that his willingness to lift the blockade is rooted in the belief that the DOJ cannot be permitted to function as leverage against the Fed, a scenario he described as potentially catastrophic for both domestic financial systems and global markets. On the question of whether Warsh would act independently of the White House, Tillis said he was confident the nominee would do so, noting that the rate-setting body operates by consensus among 12 voting members and cannot be driven by any single individual, including its chair. Tillis also acknowledged that while he supports the president’s push to address inflation and affordability, those goals must be pursued within the institutional boundaries that protect the Fed’s credibility.
Tillis weighs in on the Iran conflict
The senator also addressed the ongoing military engagement with Iran, which is approaching the legally significant 60-day threshold under the War Powers Resolution — the point at which the White House must seek congressional authorization to continue operations. Tillis said the administration first needs to provide Congress with clear strategic objectives before lawmakers can act meaningfully. He expressed openness to either a formal extension of existing authority or a full authorization for the use of military force, framing the latter as a way to signal to Iran that the effort carries the unified weight of both the executive and legislative branches of the U.S. government.
Political violence and the FBI director
Asked about the broader climate of political threats against public officials, Tillis expressed a sobering view that such dangers have become an entrenched feature of modern political life. He pointed to social media as a key accelerant, arguing that these platforms can be weaponized by bad actors to radicalize vulnerable individuals and foment targeted hatred. He called on both citizens and elected officials to exercise greater care and deliberateness in how they engage with political discourse, acknowledging that the words of those in public office carry particular weight.
Tillis also weighed in on FBI Director Kash Patel, whose tenure has drawn scrutiny in recent press reports. The senator said he continues to support the director and would not change his position based on a single uncorroborated article, indicating he would require further verified evidence before revisiting his assessment.
Earlier in the interview, Tillis also praised the law enforcement response to the security incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner the previous evening, calling it a model of coordinated, professional execution.
Source: NBC’s Meet the Press with Kristen Welker