U.S. Financial Regulatory Week Ahead
SEC Chair Atkins Testifies Before Congress on The SEC’s Agenda, Fed Vice Chair Bowman Speaks on the Regulatory Outlook, And Treasury Secretary Bessent Gives a Peek into The Trump Regulatory Reform Plan
February 9 - 13, 2026
It is a busy week for financial regulatory strategy. First, Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Paul Atkins will testify before the House Financial Services Committee on Wednesday and the Senate Banking Committee regarding his strategic plans for the SEC.
While this is happening, Federal Reserve Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman will be giving a closely watched virtual speech at the Keefe, Bruyette & Woods 33rd Annual Winter Financial Services Conference. Both Atkins's and Bowman’s remarks follow Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s testimony last week before Congress on the Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC).
Bessent said the Administration will focus on regulations that hinder economic growth. “FSOC should … work with its members to support efforts to avoid or pare back existing regulation that stifles pro-growth lending, capital formation, and innovation. And the best way to achieve these goals is by centering economic growth and economic security at the heart of FSOC’s agenda,” he said.
Bessent said he supports higher deposit insurance levels and that we should expect new nonbank guidance later this year that updates Biden-era standards for nonbank financial institutions. Overall, Bessent made it very clear that he and the White House intend to direct deregulatory changes rather than maintain regulatory independence and hope for the best.
Also, last week, CFTC Chair Michael Selig announced that the agency would support prediction markets and craft new rules for them. “Consistent with my commitment to fostering responsible innovation in crypto asset markets, I will continue to support the responsible development of event contract markets,” said Selig.
For banks, the big event was the Federal Reserve's finalization of the 2026 stress test exams. You can find them HERE. Thirty-two large banks will be tested against a severe global recession scenario, including a nearly 5.5 percentage-point rise in unemployment, a roughly 30% decline in home prices, and stress in commercial real estate and corporate debt markets.
Below is the full report on financial regulatory-related events this week. Please let us know if you have any questions.
U.S. Congressional Hearings
U.S. Senate
· Thursday, February 12, 10:00 a.m. – SEC Chair Paul Atkins will testify before the House Financial Services Committee at a hearing entitled “Oversight of the Securities and Exchange Committee.”
House of Representatives
· Tuesday, February 10, 2:00 p.m. – The House Financial Services Committee holds a hearing entitled “Building a Solid Foundation: Restoring Trust and Transparency in Public Housing Agencies.”
· Wednesday, February 11, 10:00 a.m. – SEC Chair Paul Atkins will testify before the House Financial Services Committee at a hearing entitled “Oversight of the Securities and Exchange Committee.” You can read the Committee’s background memorandum on the hearing HERE.
· Wednesday, February 11, 2:00 p.m. – The House Financial Services Committee’s Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance will hold a hearing entitled “Homeownership and the Role of the Secondary Mortgage Market.”
Federal Department & Regulatory Meetings & Events
The White House
· Nothing significant to report.
Federal Reserve Board and Federal Reserve Banks
· Monday, February 9, 1:30 p.m. PST – Federal Reserve Board Governor Christopher J. Waller will give a speech on digital assets at the Global Interdependence Center Summit: The Dollar and Continued U.S. Exceptionalism, La Jolla, California.
· Monday, February 9: 23 p.m. – Federal Reserve Board Governor Stephen I. Miran will participate in a conversation on the economy at the Boston University Questrom School of Business Events and Conference Center, Boston, Massachusetts. Later (5:00 p.m.), he will participate in a conversation at the WBUR Podcast: Is Business Broken, in Boston.
· Tuesday, February 9, 12:00 p.m. – Cleveland Federal Reserve Bank President Beth Hammack speaks on “Banking and the Economic Outlook" before the 2026 Ohio Bankers League Economic Summit
· Tuesday, February 10, 1:00 p.m. – Dallas Federal Reserve Bank President Lorie Logan speaks and participates in a moderated question-and-answer session before the 2026 Asset Management Derivatives Forum hosted by SIFMA and FIA.
· Wednesday, February 11, 10:10 a.m. – Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank President Jeffrey Schmid speaks on monetary policy and the economic outlook before the Economic Forum of Albuquerque, New Mexico.
· Wednesday, February 11, 10:15 a.m. - Federal Reserve Board Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle W. Bowman will speak on supervision and regulation at the Keefe, Bruyette & Woods 33rd Annual Winter Financial Services Conference (virtual)
· Wednesday, February 11, 4:00 p.m. – Cleveland Federal Reserve Bank President Beth Hammack participates in Leadership Dialogue, “Exploring Leadership, Economic Policy, and Career Pathways in Public Service" Leadership Dialogue hosted by the Ohio State University John Glenn College of Public Affairs.
· Thursday, February 12, 7:05 p.m. CT – Federal Reserve Board Governor Stephen I. Miran will participate in a conversation at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas Global Perspectives Event, Dallas, Texas.
U.S. Treasury Department
· Nothing significant to report.
Department of Commerce
· There are no significant events scheduled at this time.
Department of Housing and Urban Development
· There are no significant events scheduled at this time.
Securities and Exchange Commission
· Wednesday, February 11, 10:00 a.m. – SEC Chair Paul Atkins will testify before the House Financial Services Committee at a hearing entitled “Oversight of the Securities and Exchange Committee.” You can read the Committee’s background memorandum on the hearing HERE.
· Thursday, February 12, 10:00 a.m. – SEC Chair Paul Atkins will testify before the Senate Banking Committee hearing entitled “Oversight of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.”
· Thursday, February 12, 2:00 p.m. – The SEC will hold a Closed Meeting.
Commodities Futures Trading Commission
· Nothing significant to report.
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
· Nothing significant to report.
Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
· Nothing significant to report.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
· There are no significant events scheduled at this time.
FINRA
· There are no significant events scheduled at this time.
National Credit Union Administration
· There are no significant events scheduled at this time.
Federal Trade Commission & Department of Justice Antitrust Division
· There are no significant events scheduled at this time.
Farm Credit Administration
· Thursday, February 12, 10:00 a.m. – the FCA Board meets to consider a new Human Capital Overview Report and the final rule dealing with business planning.
Farm Credit System Insurance Corporation
· Wednesday, February 11, 10:00 a.m. – the FCSIC Board meets. In open/new business session they will consider: The Review and Setting of Insurance Premium Accrual Rates, Payment from Allocated Insurance Reserves Accounts, A Policy Statement re: Allowance for Insurance Fund Loss, A Policy Statement re: Alternative Means of Dispute Resolution, and a Policy Statement re: Receivership and Conservatorship Counsel. In Closed Session, they will review the Annual Report of Contracts and the Annual Report on Whistleblower Activity.
International Monetary Fund & World Bank
· There are no significant events scheduled at this time.
North American Securities Administrators Association
· There are no significant events scheduled at this time.
Small Business Administration
· There are no significant events scheduled at this time.
Trade Associations & Think Tank Events
Trade Associations
· Sunday – Wednesday, February 8 – 11: SIFMA and the FIA hold their Asset Management Derivatives Forum in Austin, Texas.
Think Tanks and Other Events
· Tuesday, February 10, 3:00 p.m. – The Urban Institute holds a virtual discussion on "The Next Chapter of Community Development Finance and Place-Based Investment."
· Thursday, February 12, 1:00 p.m. – The Brookings Institution hosts a discussion on “The Future of the Digital Economy.”
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