<blockquote>'The Fed will return about $45 billion to the U.S. Treasury for 2009, according to calculations by The Washington Post based on public documents. That reflects the highest earnings in the 96-year history of the central bank. The Fed, unlike most government agencies, funds itself from its own operations and returns its profits to the Treasury.
- Neil Irwin,
Federal Reserve earned $45 billion in 2009, January 12, 2010</blockquote>