“By the beginning of the 20th century, the debate about monetary policy and the nation's financial system had been going on for over a century. Increasingly, the shortcomings of the existing system were causing too much harm to ignore.”

American central banker and lawyer

Jerome Hayden “Jay” Powell is an American central banker and lawyer, born in 1953. He served as the 16th chair of the Federal Reserve from 2018 to 2026, and later remained on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors. Before entering public service, Powell worked in private practice as a lawyer and as an investment banker. His public record is tied to U.S. monetary policy and the leadership of the central bank, roles that place him at the center of questions about inflation, interest rates, and financial stability.