Story perspectives

Treasury to Double Buybacks to at Least $4B

8/25/2026

Summary

Story summary

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced Treasury will double buybacks to least $4 billion per operation, starting September 9 through November 4.
The buybacks aim to lower Treasury yields and ease mortgage rates burdening households and slowing the housing market.
Since the end of March, the ten-year Treasury yield has risen from 4.32 % to 4.73 %.
Federal debt hit a record $40 trillion, with interest payments set to consume 13.5 % of spending, up from 5.2 % in 2021.

History

Historical Context

In 1961 the Federal Open Market Committee first used “Operation Twist” to sell short-term Treasuries and buy long-term ones, a tactic revived in 2011 to push down long-term yields for the federal government. The Treasury’s current plan under Secretary Scott Bessent echoes that approach, aiming to lower yields as debt-service costs rise amid higher rates.

1 of 2

Story summary

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced Treasury will double buybacks to least $4 billion per operation, starting September 9 through November 4.
The buybacks aim to lower Treasury yields and ease mortgage rates burdening households and slowing the housing market.
Since the end of March, the ten-year Treasury yield has risen from 4.32 % to 4.73 %.
Federal debt hit a record $40 trillion, with interest payments set to consume 13.5 % of spending, up from 5.2 % in 2021.

1 / 2