Fort Knox Gold Reserves Are Fully Accounted for and Worth Over $1 Trillion- U.S. Treasury Secretary Says

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has affirmed that the country’s gold reserves stored at Fort Knox remain fully accounted for, stating that the United States currently holds more than $1 trillion worth of gold based on prevailing market prices.

Bessent made the remarks during an interview with Fox News, where he discussed the history of the U.S. monetary system before addressing long-standing public interest in the nation’s gold reserves.

Responding to a question about whether he had personally visited the famous Fort Knox Bullion Depository in Kentucky, Bessent explained that while he had not toured the facility himself, members of his staff had done so. He added that the U.S. Treasurer had also visited the depository and confirmed the presence of the nation’s gold holdings.

According to the Treasury Secretary, there is no discrepancy in the country’s bullion reserves. He stated that the United States possesses the largest official gold reserve in the world and that all of the gold stored by the government has been verified and remains in place.

Bessent also reflected on the evolution of the U.S. financial system, noting that the country transitioned to a fiat currency system in the 1970s. That shift ended the requirement for paper currency to be directly backed by physical gold or silver, allowing the value of the U.S. dollar to be supported by government policy and the broader strength of the American economy rather than precious metals.

Despite the end of the gold standard, the United States has continued to maintain one of the world’s largest gold reserves as a strategic national asset.

According to the latest Treasury data released in June 2026, the Fort Knox Bullion Depository holds approximately 147.34 million fine troy ounces of gold. The facility accounts for about 59 percent of the federal government’s total gold reserves. The remainder of the nation’s bullion is reportedly stored at other secure locations, including the United States Bullion Depository at West Point, the Denver Mint, and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

Fort Knox has remained one of the most secure and closely guarded facilities in the world since it began storing U.S. gold reserves in the 1930s. Over the decades, the depository has become the subject of widespread speculation and conspiracy theories regarding the status of its holdings.

However, Treasury officials have consistently maintained that the reserves remain intact. According to official records, no gold has been removed from Fort Knox for operational purposes since 1974, except for limited samples taken for testing and verification.

With gold prices reaching historic highs in recent years, the market value of the United States’ bullion reserves has surpassed the $1 trillion mark, reinforcing the country’s position as the holder of the world’s largest official gold stockpile.

Bessent’s comments are expected to reassure markets and the public about the integrity of one of America’s most valuable strategic assets while reaffirming the government’s commitment to maintaining transparency regarding its gold reserves.