A recap of the public revolt from the Fed over US Treasury funding cut

If you are just waking up there has been a very public falling-out between the Federal Reserve and US Treasury.

US Treasury Secretary Mnuchin has deniened an extension of some of the Fed's support programs for the economy and has demanded unused funds be returned:

• More on Mnuchin demanding Fed's CARES funds be returned

The Fed issued a public objection to the call from Mnuchin:

• Federal Reserve in battle against US Treasury over emergency funds

There are two competing takes on this development from Mnuchin's actions:

1. recalling unused funds from the Fed might allow Congress to spend the money elsewhere on fiscal support - the programs with funds remaining have not been widely called upon and the money could be better spent elsewhere
2. recalling funds and cancelling Fed support programs are damaging to the support for a fragile economy and will inflict further damage for the new administration to clean up

Choose whichever of those you prefer.

For me, the key point, however, is the extremely rapid reply from the Federal Reserve and in such a public manner. I cannot recall such a public falling-out between these two institutions (I'm sure folks will remind me) and am wary that this spat will shake market confidence (and economic recovery).