Fed Chair Warsh Launches Reform Push With Five Special Task Forces

Fed Chair Kevin Warsh said he is launching a push to advance Federal Reserve reforms, including the creation of five new special task forces.

According to Jin10, Warsh made the announcement at his first news conference in Washington and said the task forces will focus on five areas closely tied to the implementation of monetary policy: the Fed’s communications mechanism, the Fed’s balance sheet, how the Fed uses and relies on existing data sources, productivity and employment in an era of transition, and the Fed’s inflation framework.

Warsh said these topics have practical relevance and important effects and, in his view, merit a comprehensive re-examination. He added that he hopes most or all of the task forces can complete their work by the end of this year.

Warsh said the teams are still being formed and are expected to begin work in the coming weeks, with an initial analytical framework to be provided in the fall.

He also said the communications-focused task force is expected to ultimately propose “well-considered adjustment recommendations,” which may include changes to the Fed’s Summary of Economic Projections. The Summary of Economic Projections includes the “dot plot,” which shows interest-rate expectations from 19 senior officials.

Warsh added that most private-sector executives use real-time information that generally does not require major revisions, while government data is often revised.