Kevin Warsh has been confirmed as the 17th leader of the Federal Reserve , becoming America's economist-in-chief at a moment of resurgent inflation, public discontent with the economy and unprecedented attacks on the Fed's independence. Driving the news: Warsh was confirmed to a four-year term as Fed chair Wednesday by a 54-to-45 Senate vote. He received unanimous support from Republicans but only one "aye" vote from a Democrat, John Fetterman of Pennsylvania. Warsh takes the helm of the central bank after Jerome Powell's term ends Friday. The big picture: Warsh has promised sweeping change at an institution that he argues has grown too unwieldy and inclined to intervene in the economy. He inherits buoyant financial markets and an AI-driven growth surge — as well as the legacy of five straight years of elevated inflation that has spiked again due to the Iran war.…