Fed inspector general finds no criminal wrongdoing in headquarters renovation project
The Federal Reserve's inspector general released a report on September 30, 2026, finding no criminal violations or administrative misconduct in the central bank's $2.4 billion headquarters renovation, while identifying significant project management deficiencies. The report concluded that design features criticized by Trump, marble, water fountains, and a garden terrace, did not materially contribute to cost overruns. President Trump responded by calling for former Fed Chair Jerome Powell to resign and asking the attorney general to review the report.
29
Divergence score
This event sits in the top 24% of divergence this week. 18 outlets covered it, splitting into 18 framing camps across 4 bias groups.
18 camps
4 bias groups
The spectrum · how 18 outlets placed this story
LeftCenterRight
CBS News
CNN
Washington Times
Globe and Mail
Al Jazeera
Politico
Axios
Washington Examiner
Financial Times
The Hill
Bloomberg
Reuters
NBC News
Washington Post
Le Monde
PBS NewsHour
Breitbart
NY Post
Supportive of action
Neutral
Dismissive
Critical
Alarmist
International angle
Widest split · the two outlets furthest apart, and who published first
Furthest apart on this story
CNN
Powell did not break the law with expensive Fed renovations that incensed Trump, report finds
report undercuts Trump accusations · neutral
Breitbart
Breitbart Business Digest: Trump vs. Powell, Revisited
Dismisses exoneration, questions investigation integrity · negative
First to report
- CNNfirst
- Reuters+0 min
- Politico+6 min
- Washington Post+4.1 h
- NBC News+7.0 h
- Financial Times+7.0 h
- CBS News+7.2 h
- Washington Examiner+7.6 h
- Bloomberg+7.7 h
- Globe and Mail+7.8 h
- Washington Times+8.0 h
- Axios+8.2 h
By each outlet's earliest publish time in this story. Feeds that index slowly can appear later than they printed.
Headlines that changed · the same article, re-listed with a new headline
Financial Times · 2026-09-30 20:48 UTC
Fed watchdog finds ‘deficiencies’ but no criminal wrongdoing in $2.5bn renovation project - Financial Times
Financial Times · 2026-09-30 21:29 UTC
Fed watchdog finds ‘deficiencies’ but no criminal wrongdoing in $2.5bn renovation project - ft.com
Financial Times · 2026-09-30 22:08 UTC
Fed watchdog finds ‘deficiencies’ but no criminal wrongdoing in $2.5bn renovation project - Financial Times
Financial Times · 2026-10-01 03:32 UTC
Trump says Powell should resign after Fed watchdog clears ex-chair of misconduct - Financial Times
PBS NewsHour · 2026-10-01 04:18 UTC
News Wrap: Watchdog finds no criminal activity by Powell related to Fed renovation - PBS
PBS NewsHour · 2026-10-01 05:00 UTC
News Wrap: Watchdog finds no criminal activity by Powell related to Fed renovation - pbs.org
Le Monde · 2026-10-01 05:43 UTC
Watchdog clears former US Fed chief Powell in renovation probe
Financial Times · 2026-10-01 08:28 UTC
Trump says Powell should quit Fed board despite being cleared of misconduct - Financial Times
PBS NewsHour · 2026-10-01 13:12 UTC
News Wrap: Watchdog finds no criminal activity by Powell related to Fed renovation - PBS
PBS NewsHour · 2026-10-01 13:59 UTC
News Wrap: Watchdog finds no criminal activity by Powell related to Fed renovation - pbs.org
Financial Times · 2026-10-01 14:47 UTC
Donald Trump says Jay Powell should quit Fed board despite being cleared of misconduct - Financial Times
Financial Times · 2026-10-01 19:18 UTC
Donald Trump says Jay Powell should quit Fed board despite being cleared of misconduct - ft.com
The split, in one line
Mainstream outlets cite Powell's exoneration and no criminal findings; right-wing media reframe as incomplete accountability and buck-passing, with NY Post shifting focus to broader policy failures beyond legal culpability.
How each outlet covered it
Broad agreement on what happened
Outlets across the spectrum land in roughly the same place: the shared language is highlighted.
29LOW DIVERGENCE
THE RIGHT
“Federal Reserve watchdog finds no illegal conduct from Jay Powell in building renovations”WE Washington Examiner RIGHT
DOWN THE MIDDLE
“Trump says he asked Blanche to 'study' Fed watchdog report that cleared Powell” · Globe and Mail, Al Jazeera, Politico, Axios, The Hill, Bloomberg, Reuters, Le Monde, PBS NewsHour
+Hide the full sourcingSee how all 18 outlets put it
LEFT2
CNNCNN Powell did not break the law with expensive Fed renovations that incensed Trump, report finds 9d ago WPWashington Post Fed watchdog finds no crimes in $2.4B building renovation, only mismanagement 9d ago LEFT-CENTER2
CBSCBS News Fed watchdog finds no laws broken in $2.5 billion Fed renovation 9d ago NBCNBC News Watchdog finds no criminality in Fed renovation that drew Trump's scrutiny 9d ago CENTER6
PPolitico 'He should be sued': Trump slams Powell over report clearing Fed of criminal wrongdoing 9d ago AAxios Fed watchdog clears former chair Powell in renovation probe 8d ago HThe Hill Trump says he asked Blanche to 'study' Fed watchdog report that cleared Powell 8d ago BLBloomberg Fed Watchdog Finds Nothing Criminal About Renovations 8d ago RReuters Watchdog finds no Fed misconduct in renovation; Trump calls for Powell's resignation 9d ago PBSPBS NewsHour News Wrap: Watchdog finds no criminal activity by Powell related to Fed renovation - PBS 8d ago RIGHT-CENTER1
FTFinancial Times Trump says Powell should resign after Fed watchdog clears ex-chair of misconduct - Financial Times 9d ago RIGHT4
WTWashington Times IG report finds no misconduct around Fed building renovation 8d ago WEWashington Examiner Federal Reserve watchdog finds no illegal conduct from Jay Powell in building renovations 8d ago BBreitbart Breitbart Business Digest: Trump vs. Powell, Revisited 6d ago NYPNY Post Jerome Powell off the hook for the ‘Palace of Versailles’ renovation — but he’s still guilty of being a lousy Fed Chair 5d ago 9 tracked claims across 18 outlets
Fact ledger
All9Claimed1Corroborated8
11/18
Claimed
The renovation project cost approximately $2.4 to $2.5 billion
Corroborated
Disputed
8 more tracked claimsSign up free to see the full ledger