Core Viewpoint - The independence of the Federal Reserve is crucial for maintaining the United States' credit rating, and any significant damage to this independence could negatively impact the rating, particularly concerning the status of the dollar as the world's primary reserve currency [1][2]. Group 1 - Fitch's sovereign rating analyst, James Langston, stated that if a central bank becomes a political tool, it would have a negative credit impact, a principle applicable to all countries, not just the U.S. [2] - Langston emphasized that the key to the U.S. credit rating lies in the market's confidence in the stability of the dollar's reserve currency status and the recognition of the financial flexibility of the U.S. [2] - He added that any event that could substantially weaken this belief would negatively affect the U.S. credit rating, although currently, there are no signs of such occurrences [2]. Group 2 - The investigation into Federal Reserve Chairman Powell regarding cost overruns on the Fed's headquarters renovation has brought the independence of the Federal Reserve into the public spotlight [1]. - The ongoing scrutiny of the Federal Reserve's independence is seen as a critical issue that could influence perceptions of the U.S. creditworthiness [1].