WHAT EXACTLY IS A TREASURY SECRETARY?
The United States Treasury Secretary is the head of the Treasury Department, the department within the US government concerned with finance and monetary matters. The Treasury Secretary is appointed by the President of the United States and serves as part of his/her administration.

WHAT DOES THE U.S. TREASURY SECRETARY DO?
The Treasury Secretary is responsible for developing the US domestic and international financial, economic, and tax policies, participating
in the formulation of broad fiscal policies that have general significance for the economy, and managing the public debt of the US. The Treasury Secretary serves as the Chief Financial Officer of the US government, which includes serving as the US Governor of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, the Asian Development Bank, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

WHO IS THE TREASURY SECRETARY?
Henry Paulson was appointed Secretary of the Treasury on June 19, 2006. He previously served as chairman and chief executive officer of Goldman Sachs (1999 – 2006) and as staff assistant to President Nixon’s White House Domestic Council (1972-1973). He worked at the Pentagon from 1970 - 1972.

WHAT IS THE CURRENT U.S. TREASURY SECRETARY'S OPINION ON INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS?
Secretary Paulson testified before the House Committee on Financial Services on the State of the International Financial System on June 20, 2007. In his testimony, he identified the following as key U.S. policy priorities for international financial institutions such as the IMF and World Bank:

• Promoting private sector-led growth, reducing poverty, fighting corruption, and assisting post-conflict countries in rebuilding their war-torn economies.
• Ensuring the institutions measure, report and demonstrate results concretely and consistently; and allocate more resources to countries that are reforming and performing well
• Improving work in fragile states such as Afghanistan and Liberia
• Increasing transparency of the Bank’s country operations
• Increasing attention to debt sustainability in poor, debt vulnerable countries
• Continuing efforts to fight against corruption.

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