Federal prosecutors from the office of U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro made an unannounced visit to the Federal Reserve’s headquarters on Tuesday, attempting to gain access to an ongoing construction project. The surprise appearance comes as the Justice Department’s criminal investigation into Fed Chair Jerome Powell appears to be losing momentum following a critical court ruling.
Three officials—two prosecutors and one investigator—arrived at the site of the Marriner S. Eccles Federal Reserve Board Building in downtown Washington, D.C., requesting a “tour” to check on the progress of the headquarters’ renovations. However, they were denied entry to the site and were instead directed to the central bank’s legal team, according to CBS News.
The attempted visit is being characterized as highly unorthodox by legal observers. The move mirrors a previous incident where Pirro’s predecessor visited the home of New York Attorney General Letitia James, an action that drew accusations of violating Justice Department policies regarding fair and even-handed treatment in criminal cases, as reported by CBS News.
This confrontation occurs against the backdrop of a contentious legal battle between the Justice Department and the Federal Reserve. The investigation, which began in November in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in D.C., focuses on a costly, multi-year renovation project and Chair Powell’s subsequent testimony regarding the project before the Senate Banking Committee in June 2025.
The Stalled Investigation into Jerome Powell
The criminal probe into Chair Jerome Powell first became public in January, when Powell revealed that the Federal Reserve had received grand jury subpoenas from the Justice Department. Powell asserted that the investigation was an attempt to intimidate the Federal Reserve, particularly as he had faced criticism from President Trump for refusing to lower interest rates at a rapid pace.
The focus of the inquiry is a renovation project at the Fed’s headquarters that has cost approximately $2.5 billion to date, according to CBS News. Prosecutors have scrutinized Powell’s testimony regarding these expenditures, though no criminal charges have been filed to date.
The momentum of the probe suffered a significant blow on March 13, when Chief Judge James Boasberg of the U.S. District Court for Washington, D.C., blocked the subpoenas served by Pirro’s office. In his ruling, Judge Boasberg stated that the government had produced “essentially zero evidence to suspect Chair Powell of a crime,” as detailed by NBC News.
Following the ruling, Powell released a video statement on Sunday night, arguing that the threat of criminal charges is a consequence of the Federal Reserve maintaining its independence and setting interest rates based on public service rather than the preferences of the president, according to NBC News.
Unorthodox Tactics and Legal Friction
The attempt to “tour” the construction site was communicated via email by Robert Hur, the Federal Reserve’s outside counsel, who informed Pirro’s office that the investigators had been turned away. According to NBC News, the prosecutors explicitly stated they wished to “check on progress” of the historic buildings overlooking the National Mall.
The timing of this visit is notable as the Justice Department’s inquiry threatens to complicate the confirmation process for the next Federal Reserve chair, according to The New York Times. The tension highlights a growing friction between the executive branch’s law enforcement arms and the independent monetary authority of the central bank.
Key Details of the Federal Reserve Probe
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Investigation Start Date | November (D.C. U.S. Attorney’s Office) |
| Project Cost | Approximately $2.5 billion [CBS News] |
| Key Legal Event | March 13: Judge Boasberg blocks subpoenas |
| Central Allegation | Issues related to June 2025 Senate Banking Committee testimony |
| Current Status | No criminal charges filed |
The Federal Reserve is not funded through tax dollars, a detail noted by CBS News, which adds a layer of complexity to the scrutiny of its spending and administrative projects.
As the investigation continues to struggle in the courts, the attempt to physically inspect the renovation site suggests a shift in strategy by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro’s office, moving from formal subpoenas to unannounced field visits. Whether this tactic will yield new evidence or further fuel allegations of political intimidation remains to be seen.
The next phase of this conflict will likely depend on whether the Justice Department appeals Judge Boasberg’s March 13 ruling or pursues alternative methods to obtain the evidence they seek regarding the $2.5 billion project.
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