By Howard Schneider

WASHINGTON, Aug 26 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump's efforts to oust Federal Reserve officials to clear room for his own appointees have been stalled so far by the courts and political pushback in the Senate, but he may still have as many as four opportunities to try to beef up his influence over the central bank's policy committee.

Trump has so far stood behind ‌Fed Chairman Kevin Warsh even though his handpicked appointee sidelined talk of the interest rate cuts the president has been demanding. Warsh also set aside all rate guidance in June, shortly after becoming head of ‌the central bank.

While Warsh has talked often about the "incredible team" at the Fed — an institution designed to be insulated from politics by having only two of the seven seats on its Board of Governors expire in any one presidential term — Trump last month said he regarded the central ​bank's board in general as "maybe a little bit hostile," and as standing in Warsh's way.

"I know he would love to see lower interest rates. But he has got a board, and it's a political board," Trump said.

Though Trump's initial efforts to clear room at the Fed have been stymied, the battle to control monetary policy hasn't ended and could shift with the outcome of several personnel battles and decisions.

COOK CASE

Fed Governor Lisa Cook, the first Black woman to serve on the central bank's board, was appointed by former President Joe Biden in 2022 to a term that lasts until 2038.

Trump tried to fire her a year ago in a case that ended with the U.S. Supreme Court affirming that the president could not remove a ‌Fed governor without adequate cause and needed to follow a clear process to lay ⁠out the reasons and undergird it with evidence. The ruling left Cook in her position but kicked the case against her back to a federal district court.

The administration has chosen to pursue the matter, arguing that a misstatement on a mortgage document years ago was adequate "cause" for firing Cook. The White House has demanded she reply by Wednesday to a letter laying ⁠out its case for her removal.

Cook, who calls the administration's effort a pretext to gain sway over interest rate policy, will almost certainly continue to fight her dismissal, with another potentially protracted court battle ahead before a final ruling. Cook likely will remain on the board in the meantime.

WARSH'S PREDECESSOR HANGS AROUND

The head of the central bank for more than eight years until May, Fed Governor Jerome Powell has chosen to continue serving on the board. His term lasts until early 2028, the final full year of Trump's ​term. ​The end of Powell's tenure will provide the only certain Fed seat for Trump to fill during the remainder of his time ​in the White House.