Rand Paul Verifies Gold Reserves at Fort Knox

Senator Rand Paul visited the Fort Knox depository on August 10, 2026, to verify the existence of the United States government's gold reserves. Following the inspection, Paul confirmed that approximately 147 million ounces of gold remain in the vault.

Paul used the visit to criticize U.S. monetary policy and government spending. He argued that the dollar has lost 97% of its purchasing power since the creation of the Federal Reserve in 1913 and roughly 85% since the currency's link to gold was severed in 1971.

The senator attributed this devaluation to annual government deficits of approximately $2 trillion. He claimed the Federal Reserve System creates new money to purchase government debt, a practice he asserts dilutes the value of the currency for American households.