United States Secretary of the Treasury

The United States secretary of the treasury is the head of the United States Department of the Treasury, and is the chief financial officer of the federal government of the United States. The secretary of the treasury serves as the principal advisor to the president of the United States on all matters pertaining to economic and fiscal policy. The secretary is a statutory member of the Cabinet of the United States, and is fifth in the presidential line of succession.

Under the Appointments Clause of the United States Constitution, the officeholder is nominated by the president of the United States, and, following a confirmation hearing before the Senate Committee on Finance, is confirmed by the United States Senate.

The secretary of state, the secretary of the treasury, the secretary of war, and the attorney general are generally regarded as the four most important Cabinet officials, due to the size and importance of their respective departments.

The current secretary of the treasury is Salmon P. Chase

Powers and functions
The secretary along with the treasurer of the United States must sign Federal Reserve notes before they can become legal tender.

Secretaries of the Treasury
Parties Status

Living former secretaries of the treasury
As of 1861, there are three living former secretaries of treasury, Thomas Ewing (1837-1845), Robert B. Taney (1849-1853), and Millard Fillmore (1853-1861). The most recent death of a former secretary of the treasury was that of Richard Rush (1825–1833) on July 30, 1859. The living former secretaries of the treasury, in order of service, are: