Goldman Sachs Chief Economist: Expect the Federal Reserve to Continue Making Data-Driven Decisions Without Bias from Survey Pressure

Goldman Sachs Chief Economist Jan Hatzius stated on Monday that the threat of criminal charges against the Federal Reserve Chair will intensify market concerns about the central bank's independence, but he expects the Fed to continue making policy decisions based on economic data.
At the 2026 Goldman Sachs Global Strategy Conference, Hatzius said: "Obviously, concerns about the potential impact on the Fed's independence are increasing, and the latest news of a criminal investigation into Chairman Powell has further reinforced these worries." He added: "I have no doubt that Powell will continue to make decisions based on economic data throughout the remainder of his term, and will not be swayed by pressure—whether to raise or cut rates—following the data."