Jeff Lacker on Shrinking the Fed’s Balance Sheet

The Fed’s balance sheet has swelled from $900 billion in 2008 to just under $7 trillion in April 2026. Policymakers bought up securities to support the economy during the global financial crisis and pandemic, but critics allege the enormous balance sheet boosts inflation and distorts financial markets. If Kevin Warsh tries to reduce the Fed’s holdings as Chair, he must contend with the existing regulatory environment and the Fed’s ample reserves regime. In this episode, we talk with Jeff Lacker, the former President of the Richmond Fed from 2004-2017, about the theory behind central bank asset purchases, the costs and benefits of QE, and how a Kevin Warsh-led Fed could shrink the balance sheet.