Raphael G. Warnock

ICYMI: Warnock Votes “NO” on Trump’s Fed Chair Nominee in Banking Committee » Reverend Raphael Warnock

Position: Senator Warnock opposes Kevin Warsh's nomination as Federal Reserve Chair, citing concerns that the nominee has not adequately committed to protecting the Federal Reserve's independence from presidential political pressure, which Warnock argues is essential to the Fed's ability to serve working families and manage inflation.

Georgians stuck in the Middle East and in need of assistance should call U.S. Department of State Consular Affairs at +1-202-501-4444. For more info, click here. Senator Reverend Warnock cited his deep concerns about the future of the Federal Reserve’s independence under Trump nominee Kevin Warsh Watch the video of the Senator’s remarks HERE Washington, D.C. – Last week, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) voted “NO” on the nomination for Federal Reserve Chair nominee Kevin Warsh in the Banking Committee, citing his grave concerns about the independence of the Federal Reserve, which directly impacts inflation and the health of the U.S. economy. “I oppose Mr. Walsh's nomination today, and it comes at a critical time in our nation… We are not dealing with business as usual. These are not normal times… In fact, the president attempted to fire Governor Cook in the past year, and the President has repeatedly mused about firing Chair Powell because he won't bend to his interest rate demands, doing so as recently as two weeks ago, and Mr. Warsh says he won't answer hypothetical questions. These are the sorts of answers that matter when looking at the future of the Fed and whether the body remains an independent steward of the American economy, which matters to millions of families all across this country, even as they're trying to make their lives work in this tough Trump economy,” said Senator Reverend Warnock. “America's markets are the envy of the world. Investors flock to the United States in large part because they trust that the Federal Reserve Board is free from political influence and political pressure. And working families in Georgia and across the country struggling in this Trump economy deserve to know that the Fed is on their side, maximizing their chances to keep a good-paying job and keeping their lives affordable, not on the side of the President's poll numbers or his political concerns as we approach the midterms. Fed Independence is not theoretical. It matters to the everyday lives of working families, and for that reason, I vote no,” continued Senator Reverend Warnock. Kevin Warsh’s response to Senator Warnock’s Questions for the Record (QFRs) referenced in the statement below can be found here. Find the full transcript of the Senator’s remarks below and video HERE. “I oppose Mr. Walsh's nomination today, and it comes at a critical time in our nation. I respectfully disagree with the chair that the economy is improving. This is Trump's economy, and I don't think the folks back at home in Georgia, a year and a half into Mr. Trump's administration, believe that this is somebody else's economy other than Donald Trump. Which is why today's nomination is critically important. It is a nomination that has been tainted by the real and persistent threats that President Trump has made to members of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors. The independence of the Fed is foundational to our system. Mr. Walsh is correct that presidents and political leaders have previously called on the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates. But this is not just about interest rates. President Trump's actions, including vicious attacks on current Chair Jerome Powell, as well as his illegal attempt to fire Governor Lisa Cook should give all of us pause and deep concern. And yes, the President continues to threaten to illegally fire Chair Powell. This is not normal, and any effort to characterize it as such is blatantly false. We are not dealing with business as usual. These are not normal times. During last week's hearing, we were limited to just five minutes of questioning, and the Chair encouraged me and others to submit additional written questions for the record, which I did with an open mind to this nomination and with the hope that Mr. Warsh would use this opportunity to provide us and the American people with more clarity into how he views the Fed's dual mandate, Fed Independence and the state of the American economy, particularly when it comes to maximizing employment and making sure folks can afford to provide for their families. The written answers I and others on this committee got back were so woefully insufficient that I was left wondering if Mr. Walsh even read our questions. Did he take this process seriously? I want to read just one example. I asked. “if President Trump, or any future president, attempts to unlawfully fire you without cause, would you leave? Would you leave the Federal Reserve?” His response. “I will not answer hypothetical questions of this nature.” That was his answer. Well, this isn't a hypothetical question. In fact, the president attempted to fire Governor Cook in the past year, and the President has repeatedly mused about firing Chair Powell because he won't bend to his interest rate demands, doing so as recently as two weeks ago, and Mr. Warsh says he won't answer hypothetical questions. These are the sorts of answers that matter when looking at the future of the Fed and whether the body remains an independent steward of the American economy, which matters to millions of families all across this country, even as they're trying to make their lives work in this tough Trump economy. America's markets are the envy of the world. Investors flock to the United States in large part because they trust that the Federal Reserve Board is free from political influence and political pressure. And working families in Georgia and across the country struggling in this Trump economy deserve to know that the Fed is on their side, maximizing their chances to keep a good-paying job and keeping their lives affordable, not on the side of the President's poll numbers or his political concerns as we approach the midterms. Fed Independence is not theoretical. It matters to the everyday lives of working families, and for that reason, I vote no.”

Warnock Announces Nearly $90 Million in New Federal Funding for Outstanding Helene Payments to Georgia » Reverend Raphael Warnock

Georgians stuck in the Middle East and in need of assistance should call U.S. Department of State Consular Affairs at +1-202-501-4444. For more info, click here. This follows Senator Warnock’s most recent announcement, securing roughly $75 million in outstanding Helene payments To date, Senator Warnock has helped unlock over a billion dollars in disaster-related federal funding owed to the state This latest tranche of disaster-related funding comes as South Georgia continues to battle massive wildfires fueled by debris from Hurricane Helene Senator Warnock: “The people of Georgia stepped up when our communities were devastated after Hurricane Helene made landfall, but for too long this administration has failed to fulfill its promises and pay their share. This trend of incredibly delayed funds cannot become the status quo” Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) announced he has secured an additional $87 million in federal funding for payments owed to Georgia counties and entities following Hurricane Helene. “The people of Georgia stepped up when our communities were devastated after Hurricane Helene made landfall, but for too long this administration has failed to fulfill its promises and pay their share. This trend of incredibly delayed funds cannot become the status quo,” said Senator Warnock. “I am proud to unlock this latest round of relief funding and I hope this signals the end of chaos and bureaucracy around slowing our disaster recovery process.” One year after Hurricane Helene made landfall, Senator Warnock released a report and statement finding that the Trump administration owed $600 million in promised recovery aid to Georgians. In December 2025, Senator Warnock announced he secured $314 million in federal funding for outstanding payments owed to Georgia counties and entities in the wake of Hurricane Helene. The funding, part of a disaster recovery bill championed by Senator Warnock in 2024, is meant to reimburse local communities for funds spent on recovery. Despite bipartisan Congressional support for the immediate delivery of disaster recovery funds, the distribution of aid has been stifled by bureaucratic, red tape, and chaos in the Trump Administration. Most recently, Senator Warnock announced a tranche of funding that brought the total federal disaster funding unlocked by Senator Warnock to well over a billion dollars. A list of Georgia counties and entities receiving federal funding can be found below (this is not a comprehensive list of entities receiving funding):

Warnock Statement on Supreme Court’s Gutting of Voting Rights Act » Reverend Raphael Warnock

Position: Senator Warnock opposes the Supreme Court's decision in Louisiana v. Callais, which he argues further weakens the Voting Rights Act of 1965. He advocates for restoring the Voting Rights Act's protections and banning gerrymandering to protect voting rights and fair representation.

Georgians stuck in the Middle East and in need of assistance should call U.S. Department of State Consular Affairs at +1-202-501-4444. For more info, click here. The Supreme Court issued a decision today in Louisiana v. Callais that further ravaged the Voting Rights Act of 1965 Senator Reverend Warnock has long fought to protect the voting rights of Georgians, including introducing legislation to restore critical safeguards of the original Voting Rights Act and to ban gerrymandering Senator Reverend Warnock: “Today’s Supreme Court decision marks a profound defeat for American democracy and will pave the way for partisan politicians to pick their voters” Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) issued the following statement on the Trump Supreme Court’s decision in Louisiana v. Callais, which further ravaged the Voting Rights Act of 1965. “Today’s Supreme Court decision marks a profound defeat for American democracy and will pave the way for partisan politicians to pick their voters. For decades, Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act has protected fair and equal representation in our democratic process. With this decision, coupled with the continued erosion of the Voting Rights Act by the Supreme Court, the voice of the American people has never been squeezed further from our democratic discourse. We are at a crossroads where politicians are picking their voters. Over the past year, we have seen Washington Republicans take health care away from millions, increase the prices of countless goods, and now the people they purport to represent have less power to fight back against the politicians costing them their jobs, their health, and their wealth. Clearly, we are straying further from the core voting principles that helped create the diverse body that people see representing them today. We must restore the Voting Rights Act and ban gerrymandering. Our democracy is on the line.” Senator Warnock is a champion for voting rights, introducing the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act in July 2025, which would update and restore critical safeguards of the original Voting Rights Act of 1965. Named in honor of the late Georgia Congressman John Lewis, the bill would strengthen protections against discriminatory voting practices.

Warnock Elevates Social Circle’s Fight to Stop ICE Detention Facility in New MSNOW Documentary » Reverend Raphael Warnock

Position: Senator Warnock opposes the construction of a 10,000-bed ICE detention facility in Social Circle, Georgia, arguing it would strain local infrastructure and represents a failure to serve constituents regardless of political affiliation.

Georgians stuck in the Middle East and in need of assistance should call U.S. Department of State Consular Affairs at +1-202-501-4444. For more info, click here. In a new MSNOW documentary, Senator Warnock elevated Social Circle’s efforts to block the construction of a massive 10,000-person ICE facility Senator Warnock has led several efforts to support the city’s campaign against any ICE facility construction. The proposed facility is projected to put a massive strain on the city’s infrastructure Senator Warnock recently joined MSNOW’s Morning Joe to underscore his commitment to stopping the development of this facility Senator Reverend Warnock: “What is happening in Social Circle, Georgia—what the Trump-Vance administration is proposing—is wrong. It’s dead wrong” Washington, D.C. – Recently, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) sat down for an interview with MSNOW’s Antonia Hylton for a new documentary on the Senator’s efforts to block a 10,000-bed detention center in Social Circle, Georgia. In March, Senator Warnock visited Social Circle after local leaders were blindsided by the Trump administration’s decision to bring a new ICE detention facility to the community. “I promised the people of Georgia I would work for all of them, so for me this is not the difference between Right and Left, it’s a difference between right and wrong,” said Senator Warnock in the documentary. “What is happening in Social Circle, Georgia, what the Trump-Vance administration is proposing is wrong, it’s dead wrong.” Senator Warnock recently joined MSNOW’s Morning Joe to underscore his commitment to stopping the development of this facility. Senator Warnock has led several efforts to support the city’s campaign against the proposed ICE facility, including sending letters to DHS and making a direct appeal to DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin. Senator Warnock filed an amendment that would block the purchase of warehouses that will serve as detention centers in Social Circle and Oakwood, Georgia. “This is an example of small-town America being ignored by this administration. This is their [Republicans'] district, a red district. What these folks did not vote for is raw sewage making its way into their backyard, a day when maybe they turn on the faucet and water doesn’t come out,” said Senator Warnock on Morning Joe. “What they [Social Circle residents] have shown us is that when you stand up and push back, you get results. Because of their activism and their voice, this detention center has now been halted,” Senator Warnock continued. A video link of Senator Warnock’s Morning Joe interview can be found HERE. A video link to the MSNOW documentary can be found HERE.