Scott Bessent is ‘playing with fire’ as the Treasury’s debt buyback risks putting the dollar in a devaluation spiral like the yen, economist warns

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's move to increase bond buybacks could trigger a devaluation of the dollar, according to economist Robin Brooks. In a recent Substack post, Brooks compared the situation to Japan's experience, where the country's debt buybacks have helped keep its bond yields low and currency relatively stable. However, Brooks warns that the Treasury's plan may not address the root cause of the problem, which is the deficit.

As the deficit is projected to reach $2 trillion this fiscal year, the Treasury's efforts appear to be more of a short-term Band-Aid rather than a lasting solution. The move to buy back bonds is expected to trigger a devaluation of the dollar, similar to the yen's decline, as markets may not receive the risk premium they desire.