The Justice Department has decided against reopening a criminal investigation into Jerome Powell, the former chair of the Federal Reserve, according to CNBC. The network reported the decision on Friday, October 2, 2026. The DOJ's position was reported alongside separate developments involving Powell and the central bank. Forbes reported that President Trump said Powell should be "forced" to resign. CNBC's report did not indicate that the department provided a reason for declining to revive the probe. In a related matter, the Federal Reserve's internal watchdog concluded that a costly renovation project involved no misconduct or illegal activity, according to The New York Times. Fox Business reported that Fed official Kevin Warsh is tightening oversight of the headquarters renovation and has brought in the General Services Administration to lead the effort. The Wall Street Journal published an opinion piece describing the episode as the end of the Fed building controversy. Together, the reports point to a period in which Powell's tenure and the central bank's spending decisions have drawn scrutiny from both the White House and federal oversight bodies. The DOJ's decision leaves the criminal inquiry closed, while the renovation review has produced no finding of wrongdoing. What to watch next: whether the Justice Department explains its reasoning, and how the Fed's leadership responds to continued calls for Powell's departure.