Judy Shelton

Judy Shelton
Personal details
Born1954 or 1955 (age 69–70)[1]
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseGilbert Shelton
EducationPortland State University (BS)
University of Utah (MBA, PhD)

Judy Lynn Shelton (born 1954/55) is an American economic advisor to former President Donald Trump.[2] She is known for her advocacy for a return to the gold standard and for her criticisms of the Federal Reserve (which she has compared to the Soviet Union's economic planning).[2][3][4][1] Trump announced on July 2, 2019, that he would nominate Shelton to the Fed.[5][6][7] Her nomination stalled on November 17, 2020, with a 47–50 vote in the Senate, and her nomination was eventually withdrawn by President Joe Biden in February 2021.[8][9][10]

During the Obama presidency, she advocated for a tight monetary policy, but reversed her position during Trump's first presidency, when Trump advocated for a loose monetary policy (lower interest rates).[11][12] Her nomination was held up in the Senate, as senators of both parties were skeptical of her.[12] However, shortly after Joe Biden won the presidential election, Senate Republicans appeared to move ahead to confirm her.[12] More than 100 economists, including seven Nobel laureates, signed a letter opposing her confirmation, saying her views were "extreme and ill-considered."[13] She ultimately could not retain enough Republican support after senators Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) were absent due to exposure of COVID-19, and two present Republicans voted against and one absent one did not support her.[14]

  1. ^ a b Smialek, Jeanna (May 21, 2019). "Trump Team Vets Fed Critic for Board Seat". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 31, 2019.
  2. ^ a b Politi, James (November 12, 2020). "Senate prepares to vote on Trump's Fed board nominee Judy Shelton". Financial Times. Archived from the original on November 13, 2020. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  3. ^ Long, Heather (June 19, 2019). "Trump's potential Fed pick Judy Shelton wants to see lower rates 'as expeditiously as possible'". The Washington Post.
  4. ^ Heeb, Gina (May 22, 2019). "Trump's potential Fed pick is a critic of the central bank and supports near-zero interest rates". Markets Insider. Business Insider. Retrieved May 31, 2019.
  5. ^ Kiernan, Paul; Harrison, David (July 2, 2019). "Christopher Waller, Judy Shelton Are Trump's Latest Picks for Fed Board". The Wall Street Journal.
  6. ^ Long, Heather (November 21, 2019). "Trump's Fed nominee Judy Shelton recently questioned the need for an independent central bank". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
  7. ^ Collins, Peggy (February 3, 2020). "Senate to Hold Hearing for Fed Nominees Shelton, Waller Feb. 13". Bloomberg.
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference BG201117 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Taylor, Andrew; Rugaber, Christopher (November 17, 2020). "Controversial Fed nominee Shelton stalls in Senate test vote". AP News. Associated Press.
  10. ^ Homan, Timothy R. (January 10, 2021). "Wall Street braces for tougher rules under new Democratic majority". The Hill.
  11. ^ Wasson, Erik; Condon, Christopher; Litvan, Laura (November 12, 2020). "Senate Takes First Step to Vote on Shelton Fed Confirmation". Bloomberg. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
  12. ^ a b c Brown, Courtenay (November 13, 2020). "Controversial Trump Fed board pick Judy Shelton gets closer to confirmation". Axios. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  13. ^ Murphy, Mike (September 2, 2020). "Economists, including 7 Nobel winners, urge Senate to reject Judy Shelton's Fed nomination". MarketWatch. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  14. ^ Carney, Jordain (November 17, 2020). "Grassley quarantining after exposure to coronavirus". The Hill. Retrieved November 17, 2020.