Federal Reserve Faces Calls for Operational Review Amid Growing Scrutiny
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has ignited debate by urging a comprehensive review of the Federal Reserve's expanding operations and budget, which has quadrupled since 2004. The proposal comes as Fed Chair Jerome Powell faces mounting political pressure, including public criticism from former President Donald TRUMP over interest rate policies.
Bessent argues the Fed risks compromising its independence by straying from Core monetary policy functions. His position finds support from former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers, creating rare bipartisan alignment on central bank oversight. The institution's ballooning mandate now faces existential questions about its appropriate role in financial markets.