U.S. Financial Regulatory Week Ahead

President Trump’s Big Week in Financial Services:  Opens Up 401(k)’s Investments, Signs an Executive Order on Debanking, Names a New Fed Governor, and Meets Wall Street CEOs to Get Advice on Privatizing the GSEs

August 11 - 15, 2025

We warned you it would not be a quiet August in Washington.  Despite Congress and most Washington movers and shakers being on vacation, President Trump was very busy on a number of financial fronts.  On Thursday, he signed an Executive Order (EO) to allow 401(k)s to invest in private equity, cryptocurrency, and real estate.  That EO instructs the Department of Labor and the Securities and Exchange Commission to provide guidance to employers and plan administrators on such investments. 

The President quickly followed that up with another EO directing bank regulators to look into whether banks discriminate on political and religious grounds that lead to them “debanking” clients – something that happened to Trump after the January 6th riot on Capitol Hill. 

We also learned this week that the President met with Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan and Citi CEO Jane Fraser to get their ideas on how to privatize the two giant government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs), Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae.  The House Financial Services Committee let it be known this past week that they intend to take up legislation in early 2026 to refloat both entities, which were taken over by the US government after the 2008 financial crisis.

And to top it all off, the President was able to name a new Federal Reserve Board Governor following the resignation of Governor Andriana Kugler. Trump named the current Chair of the Council of Economic Advisors, Stephen Miran, to fill her seat (which is set to expire in January).  While the addition of Miran to the Federal Reserve Board will not necessarily tip the balance of governors voting for a rate cut - Miran won’t be confirmed by the Senate in time for the September Federal Open Markets Committee (FMOC) meeting – it will tip the balance on any votes the Fed Board makes on regulatory issues.  The FMOC is composed of all seven members of the Board of Governors and the President of the New York Fed, plus four rotating regional Fed governors.  But when the Fed votes on any regulatory issues – like the recent large bank capital rule – it is only the seven-member board of governors casting votes.  Long story short: Miran’s joining the board is a big win for Vice Chair Michelle Bowman as she will have a majority of support as she moves to reshape and reform the larger financial regulatory architecture.

The only other big news of the week was that a federal judge ruled the Federal Reserve exceeded its authority on setting limits on debt card interchange fees – a victory for merchants that had opposed the banks and the Fed on the rule. Undoubtedly, this is headed to the appellate court and then probably the Supreme Court.

So what is going to happen this coming week?  Right now, there is really not much on the calendar among the regulators other than the Farm Credit System Insurance Corporation holding a board meeting.  And the House Financial Services Committee’s National Security, Illicit Finance, and International Financial Institution Subcommittee is holding a field hearing in Riverside, Ohio, on “Securing the Supply Chain.”

And that is about it.  We hope you have a great week.

U.S. Congressional Hearings 

U.S. Senate

·       The Senate is out of session for the August recess and will return on September 1.

House of Representatives

·       The House is out of session for the August recess and will return on September 2.  However, the House Financial Services Committee’s National Security, Illicit Finance, and International Financial Institutions Subcommittee field hearing on "Securing the Supply Chain: The Defense Production Act in Focus."  The hearing is being held at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Riverside, Ohio.

Federal Department & Regulatory Agency Meetings & Events

 Federal Reserve Board and Federal Reserve Banks

·       There are no significant events scheduled at this time.

U.S. Treasury Department

·       There are no significant events scheduled at this time.

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

·       There are no significant events scheduled at this time.

Commodities Futures Trading Commission

·       There are no significant events scheduled at this time.

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

·       There are no significant events scheduled at this time.

Office of the Comptroller of the Currency

·       There are no significant events scheduled at this time.

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

·       There are no significant events scheduled at this time.

Farm Credit System Insurance Corporation

·       Thursday, August 14, 10:00 a.m. – The FCA Board will hold a meeting to review the Annual Report on the Farm Credit System’s Young, Beginning, and Small Farmers and Ranchers Mission Performance.  They will also get a brief on the Report on Startup Costs for New Farmers and Ranchers.

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

·       There are no significant events scheduled at this time.

Think Tanks and Other Events

·       Wednesday, August 12, 10:00 a.m. – The Heritage Foundation is holding a panel discussion entitled “The Future of Farming: Exploring a Pro-Health, Pro-Farmer Agenda.”

Please let us know if you have any questions or would like to be added to our email distribution list.

The U.S. Financial Regulatory Week Ahead

A Quiet Week in Washington, The Senate Gets Set to Pass the GENIUS Act but Also Blocks An Effort to Bar Fed Paying Interest Rates on Bank Reserves, and SEC Chair Atkins Staffs Up

June 16 - 20, 2025

The Juneteenth holiday on Thursday, the Federal Reserve’s Open Market Committee meetings on Tuesday and Wednesday, and the House of Representatives being out of session this week have ensured it will be a very quiet week in Washington.

But the Senate is in session, and they are feverishly working away at trying to hammer out their version of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBA).  The Senate Finance Committee is expected to release the tax portion it has drafted, and we will all be watching for any changes that impact investment vehicles, such as pass-throughs and investment savings accounts.

Also this week, the Senate is likely to pass the GENIUS Act (Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act) on Tuesday, aimed at giving the crypto industry legal and regulatory clarity.  Passage in the House is likely in the coming months. 

Looking at what happened last week and staying with the US Senate, it was interesting to see Senate Republicans block an effort by Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) to move legislation that would bar the Federal Reserve from paying interest on reserves to banks as a way to help pay for OBBA.  Cruz argued that doing so would cut $1.1 trillion from the federal budget over ten years.  The proposal sent minor waves of panic through the banking community but was quickly snuffed out by Senate Banking Committee Chair Tim Scott (R-SC).

Also this past week, SEC Chair Paul Atkins announced a number of senior appointments.  Among those named are Akin Gump partner Brian Daly to serve as the new Director of the Investment Management, Jamie Selway, a partner at Sophron Advisors, to serve as Directo of Trading and Markets, Kurt Hohl as the Chief Accountant, and Erik Hotmire as Chief External Affairs Officer and Director of the Office of Public Affairs.

Other than two speeches by Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner (who may speak about the future of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae), there really is not much going on this week. Below is everything we could find happening:

U.S. Congressional Hearings 

U.S. Senate

·       There are no significant events scheduled at this time.

House of Representatives

·       The House of Representatives is out of session this coming week.

Federal Department & Regulatory Agency Meetings & Events

Federal Reserve Board and Federal Reserve Banks

Tuesday & Wednesday, June 17 & 18 -- The Fed’s Open Market Committee meets on interest rates. 

U.S. Treasury Department

·       There are no significant events scheduled at this time.

Department of Commerce

·       There are no significant events scheduled at this time.

Department of Housing and Urban Development

·       Thursday, June 18, 1:00 p.m. – U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner gives remarks at a joint Exchequer Club – Women in Housing & Finance Lunch in Washington, D.C.

Securities and Exchange Commission

·       There are no significant events scheduled at this time.

Commodities Futures Trading Commission

·       There are no significant events scheduled at this time.

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

Office of the Comptroller of the Currency

·       There are no significant events scheduled at this time.

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

·       There are no significant events scheduled at this time.

Farm Credit Insurance Corporation

·       There are no significant events scheduled at this time.

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

·       There are no significant events scheduled at this time.

Think Tanks and Other Events

·       Tuesday, June 17 , 2:00 p.m. – The Brookings Institution will hold an event entitled “Beyond profit: How blockchain technology can be used for the public good.”

·       Wednesday, June 18, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. – the Bipartisan Policy Center’s 2025 Terwilliger Center Summit on Housing Supply Solutions takes place in Washington, D.C.  U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner will speak, as will a number of US senators, mayors, and CEOs.

·       Wednesday, June 18, 1:00 p.m. – U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner gives remarks at a joint Exchequer Club – Women in Housing & Finance Lunch in Washington, D.C.

Recommended Reading 

·       Bloomberg: Banks Want Staff Back at the Office. There Aren’t Enough Desks — HSBC and JPMorgan are among lenders taking extra space to deal with shortages.

Please let us know if you have any questions or would like to be added to our email distribution list.

U.S. Financial Regulatory Week Ahead

The Senate Votes to Overturn Biden-Era banker Merger Rules As the OCC Streamlines Merger Review Process, Stable Coin Legislation Fails in the Senate, and Will Bowman Be Confirmed This Week?

May 12 - 16, 2025

When it comes to bank regulation and streamlining of financial regulation in Washington, it seems its “everything, everywhere, all at once.”  This past week saw the Senate approve a Congressional Review Act resolution overturning a strict Biden-era rule on bank mergers.  This came as the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency announced they were streamlining the process for the review of bank mergers.

This came as Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent testified before the House of Representatives this past week, criticizing his predecessors for losing focus on core risks to the industry. 

Back to the Senate for a moment: We note the somewhat chaotic failure of what was considered a likely stablecoin bill as Democrats came out to oppose the legislation over perceived benefits to the Trump family because of their involvement in the crypto industry.  The defeat was a stinging defeat for the crypto industry, but we believe the fight is not over and the Senate is likely going to try again to bring it up for a vote in the near future.

The coming week is going to be just as busy on bank merger policy.  Most notably, we point to a hearing in the House Financial Services Committee on Wednesday entitled “Enhancing Competition: Shaping the Future of Bank Mergers and De Novo Formation.”

We are also watching to see if the Senate holds a final confirmation hearing this week (to be scheduled still) for Federal Reserve Governor Michelle Bowman to become the new Vice Chair for Supervision and Jonathan Gould to be the new Comptroller of the Currency (we will keep you updated as soon as we see any definitive scheduling in the Senate).

There are a number of important meetings and speeches to watch at the SEC and from Fed Governors this week, which we detail below.  Here you go!    Please let us know if you have any questions.

U.S. Congressional Hearings 

U.S. Senate

• Thursday, May 14, 10:00 a.m. – The Senate Finance Committee holds a hearing on Trade in Critical Supply Chains.

House of Representatives

• ·Wednesday, May 14, 10:00 a.m. – The House Financial Services Committee’s Subcommittee on Housing & Insurance holds a hearing entitled “Expanding Choice and Increasing Supply: Housing Innovation in America.”

• Wednesday, May 14, 10:00 a.m. – The House Small Business Economic Growth, Tax, and Capital Access Subcommittee holds a hearing on "Investing in America: How Private Equity Empowers Main Street."

• Wednesday, May 14, 2:00 p.m. – The House Financial Services Committee’s Subcommittee on Financial Institutions holds a hearing entitled “Enhancing Competition: Shaping the Future of Bank Mergers and De Novo Formation.”

• Thursday, May 14, 2:30 p.m. – The Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee holds a hearing on "Financing America's Manufacturing and Industrial Boom."

• Thursday, May 15, 10:00 a.m. – The House Financial Services Committee’s Task Force on Monetary Policy, Treasury Market Resilience, and Economic Prosperity will hold a hearing entitled “Examining Treasury Market Fragilities and Preventative Solutions.”

• Thursday, May 15, 10:00 a.m. – The House Appropriations Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee holds a hearing on "Oversight Hearing - The U.S. Federal Trade Commission."

Federal Department & Regulatory Agency Meetings & Events

Federal Reserve Board and Federal Reserve Banks

• Monday, May 12, 10:25 a.m. (Dublin, Ireland) – Federal Reserve Board Governor Adriana D. Kugler gives a speech on the economic outlook at the National Association for Business Economics and the Central Bank of Ireland’s International Economic Symposium, Central Bank of Ireland, Dublin, Ireland.

• Wednesday, May 14, 5:15 a.m. EST – Federal Reserve Board Governor Christopher J. Waller will speak that the  Award Ceremony for the Winners of the 2nd Edition of the Bank Al-Maghrib Prize for Economic and Financial Research, Rabat, Morocco.

• Wednesday, May 14, 9:10 a.m. EST – Federal Reserve Board Vice Chair Philip N. Jefferson gives a speech on the economic outlook at the Annual Conference of Second District Directors and Advisors (virtual).

• Thursday, May 15, 8:40 a.m. – Federal Reserve Board Chair Jerome H. Powell will give a speech on “Framework Review” at the Thomas Laubach Research Conference, Washington, D.C.

• Thursday, May 15, 2:05 p.m. – Federal Reserve Board Governor Michael S. Barr will give opening remarks (pre-recorded) at the  2025 Northeast/Mid-Atlantic Small Business Credit Symposium, hosted by the Federal Reserve Banks of New York, Cleveland, Philadelphia, Boston, and Richmond.

  U.S. Treasury Department

• There are no significant events scheduled at this time.

  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.

  Small Business Administration

• There are no significant events scheduled at this time.

  Securities and Exchange Commission

• Monday, May 12, 1:00 – 5:30 p.m. – The SEC holds a Crypto Task Force Roundtable entitled “Tokenization: Moving Assets Onchain: Where TradFi and DeFi Meet.”

• Thursday, May 15, 11:30 a.m. – SEC Deputy Director of Enforcement Kate Zoladz and several other SEC officials will speak at the Securities Enforcement Forum West 2025 Conference in Los Angeles, California.

• Thursday, May 15, 1:00 p.m. – The 12th Annual Conference eon Financial Market Regulation, co-hosted by the SEC’s Division of Economic and Risk Analysis, Lehigh University’s Center for Financial Services, and the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business will be held at the SEC Headquarters.

• Thursday, May 15, 2:00 p.m. – The SEC holds a Closed Meeting.

  Commodities Futures Trading Commission

• Wednesday, May 14, 3:30 a.m. EST/9:30 a.m. Amsterdam time – CFTC Commissioner Christy Goldsmith Romero will speak on a panel titled “Economic and Market Outlook” at the International Swaps and Derivatives Association’s Annual General Meeting in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

  Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

• There are no significant events scheduled at this time.

  Office of the Comptroller of the Currency

• There are no significant events scheduled at this time.

  The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

• There are no significant events scheduled at this time.

  FINRA

• May 13 – 15 – FINRA holds its Annual Conference in Washington, D.C.

• 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

• There are no significant events scheduled at this time.

  Farm Credit Insurance Corporation

• Wednesday, May 8, 10:00 a.m. – The Farm Credit Administration Board of Directors will meet to hear a report on Farm Credit System Funding Conditions.

  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.

Trade Associations & Think Tank Events

Trade Associations

• ·Monday – Wednesday, May 12 – 14 – SIFMA holds its Anti-Money Laundering & Financial Crimes Conference in Washington, D.C.

• May 13 – 14 – The American Bankers Association holds its American Mortgage Conference in Charleston, South Carolina.

• Wednesday, May 14 – The Institute for International Bankers holds its 2025 Information Security and Operational Reliance Conference in New York.

Think Tanks and Other Events

• ·Monday, May 12, 2:00 p.m. – The Federalist Society holds a virtual fireside chat with Elizabeth Odette, the National Association of Attorney Generals Task Force Chair and Minnesota Assistant Attorney General on the States and Antitrust Policy.

• Tuesday, May 13, 11:30 a.m. – The Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies holds a virtual discussion on "A Conversation with FTC (Federal Trade Commission) Bureau Directors."

• Wednesday, May 14, Noon – The Exchequer Club hosts SEC Commissioner Mark Uyeda.

Recommended Reading

• Wall Street Journal: Fannie and Freddie May Foment Another Crisis

  Hoover Institution Fellows John Cochrane and Stanford Professor Amit Suru point out in an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal that the two government-sponsored enterprises which failed in the 2008-2009 financial crisis are now bigger and riskier than ever.  Combined Freddie and Fannie back more than 60% of new mortgages, versus roughly 44% before the 2008 meltdown.  They argue there needs to be more market competition and less reliance on government run entities like these two giants.

Please let us know if you have any questions or would like to be added to our email distribution list.