Donald Trump's pick to join the Federal Reserve's board of governors pledged to uphold US central bank independence if confirmed -- but was coy about leaving his current White House role in the process, as the institution faces growing pressure from the president to slash interest rates.

Stephen Miran, who chairs the White House Council of Economic Advisers (CEA), faced pointed questions at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Banking Committee on his independence from the Trump administration.

The speed at which Miran is appointed will be key, given that he could take up the Fed role by the time the bank's rate-setting Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) holds its next meeting from September 16-17.

Critics accuse Trump of seeking to tip the Fed's board in favor of his stated goa

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