US Treasury appoints Judy Shelton as adviser on currency policy

Judy Shelton: Judy Shelton is an economist who previously led the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the National Endowment for Democracy. She has also served as a fellow at the Independent Institute and the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. In this development, she has been hired by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent as an adviser on currency policy, with particular emphasis on evaluating financial conditions in China. Scott Bessent: Scott Bessent serves as US Treasury Secretary under President Donald Trump. He has appointed Judy Shelton to advise on currency policy matters. The Treasury Department confirmed the hiring in a statement released on October 9, 2026. US Department of the Treasury: The US Department of the Treasury is the executive agency responsible for managing federal finances, economic policy, and currency matters in the United States. It issued the announcement regarding Judy Shelton's appointment. The department highlighted her role advising Secretary Scott Bessent on currency policy with a focus on China. Background: Shelton previously led the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the National Endowment for Democracy. Advisory Focus: Shelton will advise the Treasury Secretary on currency policy with a particular emphasis on evaluating financial conditions in China. Past Nomination: Trump had nominated Shelton for a Federal Reserve Board seat during his first term, though the nomination encountered bipartisan concerns regarding her perceived partisanship and its potential impact on Fed independence.