Kashkari claims that Walsh is qualified to serve as Federal Reserve Chairman

On February 19th, 2026 FOMC vote committee member and Minneapolis Fed Chairman Kashkari stated that Walsh is fully qualified to serve as Fed Chairman and looks forward to further discussions. Meanwhile, he believes that it is still uncertain whether the Federal Reserve can reduce its balance sheet without fundamental changes. Although the White House has officially announced that Trump will nominate Kevin Walsh as the next chairman of the Federal Reserve, Polymarket data shows that Walsh's chances of being formally nominated have decreased from 99.7% to 95%, while Judy Sheldon's chances of being nominated have risen to 4-5%. Sheldon once criticized the Federal Reserve's policies for failing to pass Senate review, making it difficult for her to become a potential option even if there is a change in Walsh's nomination.