The Indicator from Planet Money · Tuesday, September 1, 2026
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is facing criticism from investors and financial experts for the Treasury Department's plan to double its buyback of long-dated US government bonds. Critics describe the strategy as "self-limiting" and "financial repression," questioning Bessent's stated rationale of improving market liquidity and suspecting a political motive to lower interest rates.
“Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is taking a bit of a licking in the financial press right now.”
“Yeah, and executives at different investment firms have described Bessent's strategy as self-limiting, self-defeating, even financial repression.”
“He told CNBC that his department is doing this to improve liquidity for longer-dated bonds.”