As Georgians, we pride ourselves on fairness, hard work, and standing up for what’s right. That’s why I’m deeply troubled by Donald Trump’s unconstitutional campaign to oust Dr. Lisa Cook from the Federal Reserve’s board of governors, where she works to protect jobs and keep our economy stable.
An attack on independence, not qualifications
This isn’t about Dr. Cook’s qualifications or her performance; it’s about politics. President Trump is trying to pressure our courts to force a dedicated public servant off the Federal Reserve Board, not because of the quality of her work, but because of Republican partisan gamesmanship. That’s not the Georgia way, and it’s not the American way.
Dr. Cook’s case will be argued before the Supreme Court this week, and according to many experts, a ruling in President Trump’s favor would “undermine the independence of the world’s most important central bank.”
A daughter of Georgia
Dr. Cook holds bachelor’s degrees from Spelman College and Oxford University, as well as a PhD in Economics from Oxford University. She earned her position through decades of distinguished service and expertise in economics and monetary policy. She has served as a faculty member at Harvard University and Michigan State University and advised President Obama on economic policy. And more importantly for us here in Georgia, Dr. Cook is one of our own.
As a Milledgeville native, Dr. Lisa Cook represents the best of Georgia values. I had the privilege of knowing her father, Rev. Payton Cook, an Army veteran who served as a chaplain and became the first African American senior administrator at Central State Hospital. He dedicated his life to serving Middle Georgia and building bridges across racial and socioeconomic divides. The Cook family has always stood for service, integrity, and community—values that Dr. Cook carries forward in her work today.
Right now, Dr. Cook is doing the important work of protecting jobs, keeping our economy stable, and standing up for working families across America. At a time when working families are struggling to keep up with the soaring cost of living, we need experienced, principled leaders like Dr. Cook making decisions that impact our financial future.
The threat to our institutions
We cannot allow the mindless pursuit of political power to undermine the independence of our institutions. The Federal Reserve’s ability to make sound economic decisions depends on having qualified board members who can act without fear of political retaliation.
At a time when free speech is increasingly under attack, Georgians must stand up for fairness and the values that have always defined our state. Dr. Lisa Cook has earned her position, serves with distinction, and deserves our support—not political attacks designed to weaken the institutions that protect our economic stability.
It’s time to put Georgia values first and stand with Dr. Cook.
