Has Jerome Powell announced plans to step down or seek another term?
Executive summary
Available reporting shows Jerome Powell has not announced plans to step down or to seek another term; his current chair term runs through May 2026 and news coverage focuses on his remaining months and on who might succeed him rather than any Powell departure announcement [1] [2]. Major outlets describe an expected decision about a successor by the incoming administration and continuing pressure on Powell, without reporting that Powell has declared an intention either to leave early or to run for another term [3] [2].
1. What the records say about Powell’s status: term dates and no resignation announced
Public sources note Powell’s chairmanship legally continues through mid‑May 2026 and do not report a Powell announcement to step down or to seek a new term; analysis pieces and timelines cite his term expiration in May 2026 while treating him as the sitting chair through that date [1] [3]. Coverage of the December 2025 Federal Open Market Committee meeting and press conference treats Powell as continuing in office and does not carry a declaration of intent to resign early or to pursue reappointment [4] [5].
2. What reporters are focusing on: succession and political pressure
News organizations are focused on the transition question—who will replace Powell when his chair term expires—and on external pressure from the White House and political figures rather than on a Powell self‑announcement. Reuters and other outlets report the expectation that a successor will be named early in the new year and frame Powell as completing his current term while under political scrutiny [3] [6]. The New York Times profiles Powell’s “final months” at the Fed and his aim to leave the institution in good shape for a successor, again without reporting any personal plan to step down immediately [2].
3. Contradictory and partisan claims exist but lack corroboration in mainstream reporting
Several partisan and fringe outlets are circulating sensational claims — including that Powell’s reappointment could be “nullified” due to a supposed autopen signature — but these pieces are not substantiated by mainstream coverage and appear tied to political narratives rather than documented fact [7] [8] [9]. Reuters, CNBC, Business Insider and other mainstream outlets do not repeat those claims and instead treat Powell’s status as a live institutional question to be resolved through normal nomination and confirmation processes [4] [3] [10].
4. How the White House and upcoming administration factor into this story
Multiple sources note that the president nominates the Fed chair and that an incoming administration typically signals its preference before a term expires; reports say the administration is likely to announce a successor early in the coming year, which creates pressure but is distinct from Powell personally choosing to step down or run again [3] [6]. Opinion and policy pieces outline scenarios — including political plans to replace or not reappoint Powell — but those are projections about presidential action, not statements by Powell himself [11].
5. What Powell himself has said recently and what he has emphasized
In recent appearances and a December FOMC press conference, Powell framed his remaining job as steering the economy and leaving the Fed in a stable condition for his successor; reporting quotes him saying he wants to “turn it over to my successor in that condition,” which signals stewardship rather than a personal campaign to extend or curtail his tenure [2]. Coverage of Powell’s December press conference focuses on policy and the economy, not any announcement of stepping down or of seeking another term [4] [5].
6. Limits of available reporting and where uncertainty remains
Available sources do not mention Powell stating he will seek a third term or that he has formally announced resignation plans; they also report political actors discussing removal or replacement options but do not document a completed legal or administrative change [1] [11]. If you’re seeking a definitive Powell statement about his personal intentions, that is not found in current reporting; instead the record shows institutional timelines and external political maneuvering [2] [3].
Bottom line: mainstream reporting treats Jerome Powell as the sitting Fed chair through May 2026 with no public announcement from him that he will step down early or that he will pursue a new term; political actors are openly discussing replacement plans, and some partisan outlets are circulating unverified claims that are not corroborated by major news coverage [1] [3] [7].