The Federal Reserve kept its eight-meeting annual schedule after Chair Kevin Warsh proposed reducing policy-focused sessions to six and using two additional meetings for broader economic discussions. Minutes released on August 19, 2026, show that the Federal Open Market Committee made no change, leaving all eight 2026 meetings on the calendar. The committee also held the federal funds rate at 3.5%-3.75% for a fifth consecutive meeting. The July minutes said officials discussed economic growth and inflation but found no reason to alter the policy stance. Existing records from the meeting show a 9-3 vote, with Beth Hammack of Cleveland, Lorie Logan of Dallas and Neel Kashkari of Minneapolis favoring a quarter-point increase as inflation remained above the Fed's 2% target. The minutes also covered softer employment data, a transaction-settlement disruption, the role of ample bank reserves and a task force reviewing the Fed's balance sheet and bond holdings.