Fed Governor Mester: The Fed Does Not Have Absolute, 100% Pure Independence

February 10th, Federal Reserve Governor Milan stated that the Fed's balance sheet needs to shrink, but this should not deter policymakers from choosing to engage in large-scale asset purchases during an economic crisis. "Even as the balance sheet shrinks, the central bank still needs to retain the ability to use quantitative easing during a crisis." He pointed out that the dollar needs to experience a "truly significant fluctuation" to have a significant impact on inflation.Discussing the independence of the Federal Reserve, Milan stated that central bank independence will lead to better policies, but it is a means to an end, not an end in itself. "During a crisis, there will be extensive cooperation between the Federal Reserve and the Treasury Department. There is no absolute, 100% pure independence; nevertheless, making decisions based on economic needs is crucial—we tighten when the economy needs tightening, we loosen when it needs loosening, and not for other reasons."