Donald Trump's pick to join the Federal Reserve's board of governors said Thursday that he plans to take a leave of absence from his White House job while at the US central bank -- but vowed to uphold its independence.

Stephen Miran, who chairs the White House Council of Economic Advisers (CEA), said the reason for this unusual arrangement is because he is filling a short-term vacancy.

"I have received advice from counsel that what is required is an unpaid leave of absence" from the CEA, Miran told the Senate Banking Committee at his confirmation hearing.

"Considering the term for which I'm being nominated is a little bit more than four months, that is what I will be taking."

When pressed, he added: "If I am nominated and confirmed for a longer term than just a handful of months, I wou

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