Summary
Growing debt and net interest costs are a result of persistent fiscal imbalances, which, if left unchecked, threaten to crowd out spending for other national priorities. The return on every federal dollar that the Department of the Treasury (Treasury) is able to invest represents an opportunity to reduce interest costs. This report (1) analyzes trends in Treasury's main receipts, expenditures, and cash balances, (2) describes Treasury's current investment strategy, and (3) identifies options for Treasury to consider for improving its return on short-term investments. GAO held interviews with Treasury officials and others and reviewed related documents.
In managing the funds that flow through the federal government's account, Treasury frequently accumulates cash because of timing differences between when borrowing occurs, taxes are received, and agency payments are made. Treasury often receives large cash inflows in the middle of the month and makes large, regular payments in the beginning of the month. Treasury uses three short-term vehicles--Treasury Tax & Loan (TT&L) notes, Term Investment Option (TIO) offerings, and limited repurchase agreements (repo)--to invest operating cash. Before Treasury invests any portion of its operating cash balance, Treasury generally targets a $5 billion balance in its Treasury General Account (TGA) which is maintained across the 12 Federal Reserve Banks. The TT&L program provides Treasury with an effective system for collecting federal tax payments while assisting the Federal Reserve in executing monetary policy, but it subjects Treasury to concentration risk and earns a return well below the market rate. The TIO program earns a greater rate of return but it also subjects Treasury to concentration risk. Both programs also present capacity concerns. Treasury began testing repos through a pilot program in 2006. Repos have earned near market rates of return, but because of the pilot's scope and the current, limited legislative authority under which it operates, the repo participants, collateral, trading terms, and trading arrangements are restricted. A permanent, expanded repo program could permit Treasury to earn a higher rate of return, expand investment capacity, and reduce concentration risk. If given authority to design such a program, Treasury would need to tailor it to meet liquidity needs and to achieve a higher rate of return while minimizing risks that are associated with the selection of program participants, collateral types, terms of trade, and trading arrangements.
Recommendations
Our recommendations from this work are listed below with a Contact for more information. Status will change
from "In process" to "Implemented" or "Not implemented" based on our follow up work.
Director:
Team:
Phone:
Susan J. Irving
Government Accountability Office: Strategic Issues
(202) 512-9142
Matters for Congressional Consideration
Recommendation: Congress may wish to consider providing the Secretary of the Treasury with broader authority in the design of an expanded program of repurchase agreements. Congress could note that it expects that in the selection of participants, decisions about acceptable collateral, and choice of other design features the Secretary will follow a process designed to mitigate various types of risks including concentration risk, credit risk, and market/interest rate risk. The decision not to legislate in detail how Treasury invests cash does not remove Congress's oversight authority or responsibility. To assist Congress with oversight, the legislation could require the Secretary to report annually on the Treasury investment program.
Status: In process
Comments: When we determine what steps the Congress has taken, we will provide updated information.
Recommendations for Executive Action
Recommendation: The Secretary of the Treasury (Treasury) should explore the reallocation of its short-term investments as discussed in this report and, if provided the authority to do so, implement a permanent, expanded repo program that would help Treasury meet its short-term investment objectives while maintaining current minimal risk investment policies.
Agency Affected: Department of the Treasury
Status: In process
Comments: When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Recommendation: If provided the authority for a permanent, expanded repo program, Treasury should consider allowing broker dealers as counterparties and expanding acceptable collateral types to alleviate capacity concerns and increase rates of return. The effects on rates of return and operational efficiencies of an electronic trading platform and a triparty clearing and settlement system should also be considered.
Agency Affected: Department of the Treasury
Status: In process
Comments: When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Recommendation: When making decisions about short-term investment programs, Treasury should follow a systematic process to identify and mitigate various types of risks including concentration risk, credit risk, and market/interest rate risk.
Agency Affected: Department of the Treasury
Status: In process
Comments: When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Recommendation: Treasury should consider the costs and benefits of each alternative and determine whether the benefits to the federal government outweigh any costs.
Agency Affected: Department of the Treasury
Status: In process
Comments: When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Recommendation: Treasury should also consider how its investment programs might be combined to produce outcomes that are more beneficial, and should consider the effect of its investments on similar Federal Reserve open market operations.
Agency Affected: Department of the Treasury
Status: In process
Comments: When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
