Dorothy

The Federal Reserve unanimously decided to maintain its benchmark interest rate range between 3.5% and 3.75%, pausing further cuts after three reductions in late 2023, according to all major news sources. The decision followed a two-day meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), which voted 10-2 to hold rates steady, with members citing persistent inflation as a key reason for caution. The move comes amid heightened scrutiny from the White House, where former President Donald Trump has publicly urged the Fed to lower rates to stimulate economic growth. The central bank’s stance reflects its dual mandate to control inflation while supporting employment, with NPR and USA Today emphasizing the Fed’s data-driven approach as it assesses economic conditions. While all outlets confirm the rate decision and Trump’s public pressure, framing differs across the political spectrum. Left-leaning sources like ABC News and The Guardian highlight the Fed’s resistance to political influence, framing the decision as a defense of institutional independence. Center sources such as Reuters and NPR focus on economic data, noting inflation concerns without emphasizing political context. Right-leaning outlets like The Hill and Washington Examiner underscore the political tension, explicitly linking the Fed’s decision to Trump’s criticism and referencing a Justice Department criminal probe into Chair Jerome Powell—a detail absent from center and left-leaning reports. These outlets portray the Fed’s actions as part of a broader conflict between political leadership and central bank autonomy, while other sources treat the probe as a separate, unconfirmed development unrelated to monetary policy.