The gold reserves of the USA, valued at 8,133.5 tons, are considered illiquid and with low purity standards.

The gold reserves of the USA, estimated at 8,133.5 metric tons, are criticized for illiquidity and lower purity standards compared to international requirements. Stefan Gleason, CEO of Money Metals, stated that most of this gold is a "decrepit relic." The central bank of France recently sold non-standard gold and replaced it with higher quality bars, highlighting the discrepancies between global standards and those of the USA.

Almost 64% of the bars at Fort Knox have a purity between 899 and 901, and only 17% meet modern standards. Credible physical audits have not taken place since the 1970s, and missing documents and discrepancies in the custody chain raise concerns. The bill introduced by Senator Mike Lee would call for a complete audit of the gold reserves, including the refining of non-standard bars. These issues are a legacy of past monetary policy, when President Roosevelt confiscated private gold, leaving behind a monetary system based on trust.