The pandemic has caused widespread economic hardship, but it has also shined a light on pre-existing inequalities. We have a chance to build back better, with an economy that works for everyone.

Analysis

Janet Yellen did speak in 2021 about how COVID‑19 revealed existing economic disparities and emphasized the need for policies that benefit all Americans. However, the exact phrasing quoted does not appear verbatim in the official transcripts; it is a close paraphrase of her broader remarks. The substance of the claim aligns with her public statements, but the specific quotation is not precisely documented.

Background

In multiple speeches and testimony in 2021, Treasury Secretary Yellen highlighted the pandemic’s impact on low‑income and minority communities and called for an inclusive recovery. She referenced the "build back better" agenda, echoing the Biden administration’s policy goals.

Verdict summary

Yellen made remarks about the pandemic exposing inequalities and the chance to build back better, though the quoted wording is a paraphrase rather than a verbatim statement.

Sources consulted