Washington ? The Federal Reserve paid a record $46.1 billion in earnings to the Treasury Department last year, reflecting gains as the central bank bulked up its portfolio of securities to revive the economy and fight the financial crisis.

The payment marks an increase of $14.4 billion from what the Treasury was provided in 2008 and is the largest since the Fed began operating in 1914, the central bank announced Tuesday.

The Fed’s net income of $52.1 billion in 2009 also was a record, according to preliminary figures. It was up from $35.5 billion in 2008.

Critics on Capitol Hill and elsewhere have expressed concern that the Fed’s extraordinary actions to fight the economic and financial crises could put taxpayers at risk by reducing the amount turned over to Treasury coffers.

The payment reported by the Fed came from $46.1 billion in earnings from the securities it held last year. Such income rose largely because the Fed’s holdings of securities mushroomed, though increases in the value of the securities also helped, Fed officials said.

The Washington Post reported estimates of the Fed’s payment earlier Tuesday.

The Fed launched several securities-buying programs last year to help lift the economy out of recession. Its goal is to drive down rates on mortgages and other consumer debt.

Under one program that ended last year, the Fed snapped up $300 billion in government debt. Under another program, the Fed is on track to buy a total of $1.25 trillion in mortgage securities from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac by the end of March.