Treasury Appoints Judy Shelton as Counselor on Foreign Exchange Policy

Original summary · What happened

United States Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has named Judy Shelton as an advisor within the department to focus on foreign exchange and international monetary affairs. An official announcement stated that Shelton will consult on international currency dynamics, placing specific emphasis on assessing financial conditions and exchange rate policies connected to China. Her prior economic scholarship includes volumes on international currency stability and decades of commentary at conservative research institutions.

Shelton previously generated significant bipartisan debate on Capitol Hill when former President Donald Trump nominated her to the Federal Reserve Board of Governors in 2019, an appointment the Senate ultimately blocked over her skepticism toward central bank autonomy and advocacy for gold-backed monetary standards. Her arrival adds another prominent voice to Bessent's advisory circle as the administration confronts elevated bond yields and international trade pressures.