TARP in the Crosshairs Accountability in the Troubled Asset Relief Program

This book focuses on TARP, the Troubled Asset Relief Program that was signed into law under the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act on October 3, 2008. The act established the Office of Financial Stability (OFS) within the Department of the Treasury and authorised the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP). Among other things, the act provides Treasury with broad, flexible authorities to buy or guarantee up to $700 billion in "troubled assets," which include mortgages and mortgage-related instruments, and any other financial instrument whose purchase Treasury determines is needed to stabilise the financial markets. The act also created a number of mechanisms to oversee the implementation and operations of TARP. The U.S. Comptroller General is required to report at least every 60 days on findings resulting from oversight of TARP's performance in meeting the purposes of the act; the financial condition and internal controls of TARP, its representatives, and agents; TARP's efficiency in using the funds appropriated for the programs' operation; TARP's compliance with applicable laws and regulations and minimising conflicts of interest of those involved in TARP's operations and the efficacy of contracting procedures. This book consists of public domain documents which have been located, gathered, combined, reformatted, and enhanced with a subject index, selectively edited and bound to provide easy access.