Judy Shelton's appointment as a counselor to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is noteworthy given her previous nomination to the Federal Reserve was rejected by a bipartisan group of Senators due to her unconventional economic views, including support for the gold standard and skepticism about the necessity of a central bank.
Shelton, who has a Ph.D. in business administration and has worked at think tanks like the Independent Institute and Hoover Institution, will advise on currency policy with an emphasis on China, despite not being recognized as a China expert.
This move occurs during a period of instability within the Treasury, which has seen a significant number of departures among Senate-confirmed officials, raising questions about continuity and leadership in the department.
The appointment of Shelton, along with David Zervos, who was also named as a counselor, indicates a shift in personnel that could influence U.S. economic policy, particularly regarding international monetary relations