Judy Shelton Appointed Treasury Counselor Despite Previous Fed Nomination Rejection
Judy Shelton, who was blocked by the Senate in 2019 from joining the Federal Reserve due to her controversial economic views, has been appointed as a counselor to U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. In this role, she will advise on currency policy with an emphasis on evaluating financial conditions in China. Although Shelton is not widely recognized for expertise on China, she brings experience through academic and think tank roles at the Independent Institute and Hoover Institution. Shelton's appointment follows a period of high-level personnel turnover within Treasury, as noted by recent departures of seven Senate-confirmed officials since Bessent took office. Her new position does not require Senate confirmation, unlike her previous Fed nomination attempt under President Trump. This move highlights the administration’s continued engagement with free-market economic thinkers despite past political pushback. The decision underscores ongoing debates around monetary policy and central bank independence in U.S. fiscal strategy.
Topics: currency policy Judy Shelton Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent U.S. Federal Reserve nomination