Central BanksMedium•21 February 2026•
1 min read

Fed's Powell and Warsh Address Strategy for Balance Sheet Reduction

Key Facts

1Jerome Powell acknowledges that the Federal Reserve's balance sheet has become too large.
2Kevin Warsh has proposed a plan to reduce the balance sheet to normalize monetary policy.
3The primary challenge is executing the reduction plan without triggering market panic or volatility.

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell has acknowledged that the central bank's balance sheet has expanded excessively and requires a strategic reduction. Former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh has proposed a formal plan to normalize monetary policy by downsizing the massive accumulation of assets. The consensus highlights the need to reverse the significant expansion caused by previous quantitative easing to ensure long-term financial stability. However, the primary challenge remains executing this transition without triggering market panic or significant volatility in global financial systems. Market participants are closely monitoring the potential impact on liquidity, which could drive US10Y bond yields higher and influence the DXY. Successfully navigating this reduction is seen as a critical step in balancing monetary tightening with the preservation of market order.