Scott Bessent has appointed Judy Shelton as a counselor at the Treasury. She will advise on currency policy, with a specific focus on financial conditions in China. The counselor title does not require Senate approval.

Shelton brings a background in global monetary systems rather than regional expertise in Asia. She holds a Ph.D. in business administration from the University of Utah and previously worked at the Independent Institute and the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. Her career includes publishing research on domestic economic shifts and their impact on exchange rates.

Her return to federal advisory roles comes after a major political setback in 2019. A bipartisan group of senators blocked Donald Trump’s nomination of Shelton to the Federal Reserve. Lawmakers opposed her positions on central bank independence, the gold standard, and the role of a national banking system.

The appointment arrives during a period of high turnover at the Treasury. Seven Senate-confirmed officials left the department by the end of August. Only one vacancy has been filled since then.

Bessent recently made a similar move by naming David Zervos, former chief market strategist at Jeffries, to the same counselor position. Both advisors operate outside the Senate confirmation process to provide rapid policy input.