What is a treasure bill ?

A treasure bill is a type of government security issued by the United States Department of the Treasury. It is a short-term debt instrument with a maturity of one year or less that is used to finance the government's short-term borrowing needs. Treasure bills are considered to be one of the safest investments available because they are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. Investors can purchase treasure bills directly from the Treasury or through a broker.