The article argues that recent executive overreach and politicization have severely undermined established norms of U.S. civil-military relations. To restore professional standards, the incoming Congress must actively exercise its oversight powers, moving beyond mere criticism to demanding transparency in defense policy and personnel decisions. Key reforms include enforcing meritocratic promotion processes, requiring documented justification for senior officer removals, and preventing the partisan use of the military. These actions are crucial for bolstering public trust and ensuring the military remains a nonpartisan instrument of civilian control.
Grading Fed communications: A 2026 survey of Fed watchers
English Summary
The 2026 Brookings survey indicates that Fed watchers generally rate current communications highly, finding the chair's post-meeting press conference to be the most useful communication channel. While most respondents support maintaining the current 'ample reserves' framework and view the balance sheet size as stable, the most critical finding is the perceived threat to the Fed's independence. For incoming leadership, the primary strategic challenge is maintaining monetary policy autonomy from political interference, which 75% of respondents rate as a significant threat. Policymakers should therefore prioritize clear, consistent, and highly independent communication to sustain market credibility and policy effectiveness.
中文摘要
根據布魯金斯智庫（Brookings）2026年調查顯示，觀察聯準會（Fed）的人士普遍對目前的溝通方式給予高度評價，認為主席在會議後的記者會是最有用的溝通管道。雖然大多數受訪者支持維持現行的「充足準備金」框架，並認為資產負債表規模穩定，但最關鍵的發現是市場對聯準會獨立性的擔憂。對於即將上任的領導層而言，主要的戰略挑戰是維持貨幣政策的自主性，避免政治干預，這一點有75%的受訪者評定為重大威脅。因此，政策制定者應優先建立清晰、一致且高度獨立的溝通機制，以維持市場信譽和政策有效性。
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