According to CNBC, Kevin Hassett, the Director of the National Economic Council, who was originally seen as a popular candidate for Federal Reserve Chairman, has recently encountered resistance among senior officials close to Trump. According to insiders, the concerns mainly focus on Hassett's overly close relationship with the President, which could undermine external confidence in the Federal Reserve's independence; this is also considered one of the reasons why some candidate interviews were canceled in early December, with only Kevin Warsh's interview being rescheduled.