Donald Trump was already faced with an extraordinary opportunity to reshape the US central bank. The decision by Stanley Fischer to leave the Federal Reserve’s powerful board of governors eight months before his term expires will allow the president to make his mark even sooner.

The Fed vice-chair’s departure next month opens a fourth vacancy on the board of governors, depending on how soon incoming governor Randal Quarles can clinch confirmation in the Senate. On top of that, Janet Yellen may well fail to win a second term as Fed chair when her current stint expires in February. 

By early next year there may be only two governors left who can count their service at the Fed in years rather than weeks or months. Sarah Binder of George Washington University says in modern times no president has had more potential Fed board positions to fill at one time.