In early spring of 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic began to create economic issues in the U.S., the Federal Reserve lowered the federal funds rate down to near 0%. This is an example of ________. In early spring of 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic began to create economic issues in the U.S., the Federal Reserve lowered the federal funds rate down to near 0%. This is an example of ________. contractionary monetary policy, using the required reserve ratio tool contractionary monetary policy, using the open market operations tool neutral monetary policy, using the required reserve ratio tool expansionary monetary policy, using the discount rate tool expansionary monetary policy, using open market operations tool