Federal Reserve Governor Michael Barr recently voiced concerns about the Department of Justice's ongoing investigation into Fed Chair Jerome Powell, characterizing it as a direct threat to the central bank's institutional autonomy. According to Barr, such inquiries risk undermining the very independence that allows the Fed to make monetary policy decisions based on economic data rather than political pressures. The timing and nature of the investigation have sparked debate within financial circles about the boundaries between executive oversight and central bank autonomy—a distinction particularly important as the Fed navigates inflation management and interest rate decisions. Barr's comments highlight growing tensions over how independent institutions should operate within the American political system.