Bull by the Horns

Sheila Bair was the first to acknowledge the full risk of subprime loans and one of the first people to take over as head of the US Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Early in her tenure at FDIC, she was probably better known for her position at the agency than for anything she did there. However, now she is at the center of the economic crisis, speeding up the takeover of any banks that fail and pressing mortgage companies to make it easier for people to get loans.