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NATIONAL TREASURE

Who is Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen?

JANET Yellen made history when she became the first female ever to lead the Department of Treasury under the Biden administration.

New York-born Yellen isn't new to making history, though.

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, with Vice President Kamala Harris (L), speaks during the announcement for the disbursement of nearly $1.25 billion for Community Development Financial Institutions
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US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, with Vice President Kamala Harris (L), speaks during the announcement for the disbursement of nearly $1.25 billion for Community Development Financial InstitutionsCredit: AFP

Who is Janet Yellen?

Janet Yellen was born on August 13, 1946, and grew up in Brooklyn.

Yellen graduated summa cum laude from Brown University with a degree in economics in 1967 and received her Ph.D. from Yale University in 1971 with a concentration in economics.

She was the first female to be the Federal Reserve chair from 2014 to 2018. 

She became an adviser to Joe Biden's campaign after leaving the Fed.

She also became a distinguished fellow in residence at the liberal Brookings Institution in Washington, DC.

During her tenure as Fed chair, the central bank shifted much of its policy focus from fighting inflation to maximizing employment.

She visited employment training centers to spotlight the need for programs to equip people for good jobs.

What is the Treasury Secretary's job?

Yellen represents the Biden administration in global financial affairs and leads a department whose responsibilities range from the government's finances and tax collections to global currency markets, bank regulation, and money printing.

She is a crucial adviser to Biden and a public spokesperson for his economic agenda.

Yellen also works with the House minority leader, Chuck Schumer.

Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen at the centennial commemoration of the Fed in 2013, when she was a vice-chair
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Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen at the centennial commemoration of the Fed in 2013, when she was a vice-chairCredit: Getty Images - Getty

Who is the Deputy Secretary of the Treasury?

The Deputy Secretary of the Treasury is Wally Adeyemo.

He was sworn in on March 26, 2021.

According to the , Adeyumo serves as the second in command of the Treasury, operating as its Chief Operations Officer.

He would take over for Yellen if she were sick or otherwise unavailable to make critical decisions.

The site says: "Adeyemo has taken a leading role in Treasury’s national security, economic inequality, and pandemic-related economic recovery work, while supporting the Secretary in driving the Department’s fundamental mission: promoting economic growth and ensuring the financial security of the United States."

He also worked in various roles at the Treasury during President Obama's tenure.

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