Janet Yellen sworn in as US Fed chief; Bernanke joins Brookings
Yellen will testify before the House Financial Services Committee on 11 February, and before the Senate Banking Committee on 13 February
Washington: Janet Yellen was sworn in today as the chairman of the US Federal Reserve’s Board of Governors in Washington, while her predecessor, Ben Bernanke, joined the Brookings Institution as a distinguished fellow in residence.
The announcements completed a leadership transition, with Yellen becoming the top policymaker as the Fed tries to wean financial markets off a bond purchase programme that has pushed up central bank assets to $4.1 trillion. She is scheduled next week to report on monetary policy in semi-annual testimony before the House and Senate.
Yellen’s oath of office was administered in the Fed’s board room by Fed governor Daniel Tarullo, the central bank said in a statement in Washington on Monday. Her term will last through 3 February 2018. She didn’t make a public statement at the ceremony.
Yellen will testify before the House Financial Services Committee on 11 February, and before the Senate Banking Committee on 13 February.
Bernanke, whose term at the Fed expired on 31 January, will be a distinguished fellow in residence at Brookings, the organization said in a statement. His former Fed colleague Don Kohn, who was vice chairman of the central bank under Bernanke, is a senior fellow at Brookings, as is former Fed vice chairman Alice Rivlin.
“We are proud to welcome Chairman Bernanke into the Brookings family," said Brookings president Strobe Talbott. “His firm, steady hand at the Fed’s tiller came at a crucial time in our nation’s history, including during the worst financial and economic crisis since the Great Depression. We know he’ll bring insights from his tenure at the Fed to his work at Brookings." Bloomberg
Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed – it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!