Fed Thoughts
Fed Thoughts: Watchful Waiting
Fed Thoughts White Paper
January 2026
Authors & Contributors
With rates poised to hold steady at the January 27-28 Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting, the Federal Reserve (Fed) takes on a watchful stance as the chair selection and the Supreme Court’s ruling on Governor Lisa Cook approach.
This pause follows late-2025’s “insurance” rate cuts amid mixed economic signals. With impending leadership changes and history demonstrating that chair appointments tend to be political, we believe policymakers see little need to move quickly in early 2026.
