The Federal Reserve said Friday it would comply with a Treasury Department request to return unused funds meant to backstop five emergency lending programs, moving to tamp down a public rift that arose a day earlier.

Analysts, issuers and lawmakers have mixed responses to the closure of the Municipal Liquidity Facility with some saying the move puts the municipal market in a precarious spot as COVID-19 continues to ravage the country.

While the facilities' availability inspired market confidence, the fact that $455 billion remains unused suggests shutting down the programs is unlikely to cause major problems, analysts say.

Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin told Fed Chair Jerome Powell to end most emergency lending programs created earlier this year, including the MLF, on Dec. 31.

Judy Shelton’s nomination to the Federal Reserve Board was blocked in the Senate Tuesday, a stunning defeat for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

Tennessee Sen. Lamar Alexander joined Mitt Romney of Utah and Susan Collins of Maine in disapproving of Judy Shelton's nomination to the Federal Reserve Board, adding drama to a confirmation vote that had been targeted for this week.

The Federal Reserve’s changed policy framework is “an evolution, not a revolution,” according to Vice Chair Richard Clarida.

Financial markets should not fret if the Federal Reserve’s emergency lending facilities are not extended at the end of this year, when all but one are due to expire, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis Fed President James Bullard said.

The latest wave of COVID-19 outbreaks in the U.S. may weigh on economic growth in the coming months, Federal Reserve Bank of New York John Williams said.

Bullard addresses coronavirus and the economy, University of Michigan consumer expectations drop.

Three of the world’s top central bankers warned Thursday that the prospect of a COVID-19 vaccine isn’t enough to put an end to the economic challenges created by the pandemic.

The Senate could take up President Donald Trump’s outstanding two nominations to the Federal Reserve board next week, according to Sen. John Cornyn.

The Fed’s vice chair of supervision said the Fed's backstop lending to states and localities "may not be the answer to all their issues."

But in the second half of 2021, the U.S. economy is likely to have a strong recovery from the pandemic.

Rachael Fauss of watchdog Reinvent Albany discusses the importance of transparency amid the pandemic. She also explores state-agency debt and the Fed's Municipal Liquidity Facility. Paul Burton and Andrew Coen host. Recorded Nov. 2 (19 minutes)

Opening a bank or investment account — or even securing employment in a racism-free workplace — is out of reach for many Black Americans.

Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis President Neel Kashkari isn’t attending the central bank’s two-day policy meeting after the birth of his second child this week.

Lynne Funk and Gary Siegel discuss how the election results will affect the municipal market, how the Fed moves forward and some winners and losers with bond ballot measure results and muni advocates who held onto their seats in Congress. (21 minutes).

Municipals were weaker in the 10-year range by as much as one basis point on Monday as all eyes fixate on election results.

No one expects any change to the fed funds rate target when the Federal Open Market Committee meets on Wednesday and Thursday, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to watch for.