(CNN) Top White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said Tuesday that "we're talking to a number of candidates" for two open seats on the Federal Reserve board, even though President Donald Trump's two named picks are still in the vetting process.

Trump recently said he plans to nominate former Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain and former 2016 campaign adviser Stephen Moore to the Fed's interest rate-setting committee -- the most powerful monetary policy jobs in the world.

Both men have drawn widespread criticism, including from senators who will have to confirm them if they are formally nominated.

Asked if Cain still has the President's confidence, Kudlow said yes -- and echoed Trump's own comments last week that it would be Cain's prerogative to bow out.

"Herman's going through the vetting process for now," Kudlow said Tuesday. "That's where we are on that, I think at the end of the day, probably up to Herman Cain as to whether he wants to stay in that process or not. As far as we're concerned, he's in the process and it's proceeding in an orderly way."