1 Battle After Another: Jerome Powell’s Turbulent Time as Chairman of the Federal Reserve

‘Powell’s legacy will be one of admirable steering of monetary policy during an increasingly shaky time for the U.S.,’ one top economist says.

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell speaks at a news conference following the Federal Open Market Committee meeting in Washington on Oct. 29, 2025. Madalina Kilroy/The Epoch Times

A once-in-a-century pandemic. Global trade strife. War-driven oil price shocks. Bank failures.

For outgoing Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell—whose term expires on May 15—it was one battle after another, making his job of balancing the central bank’s dual mandate—maximum employment and price stability—harder.