Bessent: wealth fund 'exciting' idea, must first get short-term fiscal house in order

Jan 16 (Reuters) - U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's choice to head the Treasury Department, Scott Bessent, on Thursday said that creating a sovereign wealth fund or some other supplemental U.S. asset fund is "very much in the mix" and a very exciting idea.

"We have fantastic assets that could be earning leverage or used for multiple revenue-generating opportunities," he told the U.S. Senate Finance Committee. But given the large U.S. budget deficit, the first order of business before implementing any such plan must be to "get our short-term house in order."

(Reporting by Ann Saphir)

((Ann.Saphir@thomsonreuters.com; 312-593-8342; www.x.com/annsaphir; Reuters Messaging: ann.saphir.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))