President Trump has resumed his criticism of the Fed since returning to office, a departure from the norm as recent presidents usually refrain from publicly criticizing the institution and its policymakers. The Fed is expected to pause interest rate cuts due to a slight increase in inflation and robust economic growth, leading policymakers to lower their rate cut projections for 2025 to a median of two cuts. Trump has directly requested an immediate drop in interest rates, warning of a forthcoming forceful statement if the Fed, under Jerome Powell's leadership, does not comply with his demands. According to KPMG's Swonk, the Fed will not preempt any policies from the new administration but will assess their impact on the economy before taking action.