How does the government control interest rates and the money supply?

The government controls interest rates and the money supply primarily through its central bank, which in the United States is the Federal Reserve. The central bank uses tools such as open market operations, where it buys or sells government securities to influence the amount of money in circulation, and adjusts the discount rate to set the cost of borrowing for banks. By manipulating these factors, the central bank can influence overall economic activity, control inflation, and stabilize the currency. Additionally, reserve requirements dictate how much money banks must hold in reserve, further regulating the money supply.