Federal Reserve System

The Federal Reserve is the central banking system of the United States, responsible for monetary policy, banking supervision, and financial stability. As an independent agency within the government, the Fed operates with significant autonomy from political control while remaining accountable to Congress.

The Fed's decisions on interest rates, quantitative easing, and bank regulation shape global financial markets. Its response to the 2008 financial crisis and COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated how central bank action can stabilize or stimulate economic systems, acting as a metabolic regulator for the economy.