WASHINGTON, D.C.: Republicans in the US Senate on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila) boycotted a vote to confirm President Joe Biden's nominees to lead the Federal Reserve, creating a potential roadblock for the central bank as it looks to fight runaway inflation.

The Senate Banking Committee was scheduled to vote on the nomination of Fed Chairman Jerome Powell for a second term, as well as Fed Governor Lael Brainard to serve as his vice chairman; Sarah Bloom Raskin for the post of top banking regulator; and Lisa Cook and Philip Jefferson to join the central bank's Board of Governors.