The Silicon Valley Bank Bailout

The bill for bad policy comes due, but there’s risk in a second rescue of the banking system in 15 years.

Journal Editorial Report: Paul Gigot interviews former Trump White House economist Kevin Hassett. Images: Bloomberg News/Zuma Press Composite: Mark Kelly

The Treasury and Federal Reserve stepped in late Sunday to contain the financial damage from Friday’s closure of Silicon Valley Bank, guaranteeing even uninsured deposits and offering loans to other banks so they don’t have to take losses on their fixed-income assets.

This is a de facto bailout of the banking system, even as regulators and Biden officials have been telling us that the economy is great and there was nothing to worry about. The unpleasant truth—which Washington will never admit—is that SVB’s failure is the bill coming due for years of monetary and regulatory mistakes.

Opinion

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