U.S. Financial Regulatory Week Ahead
The Senate Moves Closer to Passing Landmark Housing Legislation, and the Federal Reserve Continues to Battle the Justice Department Over the Powell Investigation
March 2 - 6, 2026
Washington is enjoying another snowy day (ok – not really, we are sick of it). But Congress is busy this week as the Senate Banking Committee votes this evening on historical bipartisan housing legislation.
The bill aims to increase affordable housing by reforming zoning, streamlining federal permitting, expanding the HOME Investment Partnerships program, and strengthening rural housing programs.
The legislation was passed by the House of Representatives in December. President Trump is expected to sign the legislation once it is passed by the Senate.
Also this week, SEC Chair Paul Atkins will be joining with CFTC Chair Michael Selig on Tuesday at the Milken Institute’s Future of Finance 2026 Conference in Washington, D.C. The conference features a powerhouse lineup of speakers, including White House Economic Advisor Kevin Hassett, House Financial Services Committee Chair Representative French Hill, and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner.
Meanwhile, new reports suggest the ongoing criminal investigation by the Justice Department into Federal Reserve Board Chair Jay Powell for allegedly lying in testimony before the Senate Banking Committee is not going away. Politico and the Wall Street Journal reported late last week that the Federal Reserve is battling the Justice Department in federal court over a grand jury subpoena. The matter is now before a federal judge, and it is unclear when a ruling will be issued.
The entire situation has angered members of the Banking Committee – especially Republican members, including Committee Chair, Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) – who strongly dispute that Powell lied to the committee and are bewildered as to why the investigation is even taking place. Moreover, committee member Senator Tom Tillis (R-NC) has said he will block the confirmation of Federal Reserve Board Chair-nominee Kevin Warsh until the case is dismissed.
Next week, we note that both the American Bankers Association (March 9 -11) and the Institute for International Bankers(March 8 – 10) are holding their annual conferences. Washington will be awash in bankers! More in next week’s edition.
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
· Wednesday, March 4, 10:30 a.m. – The Joint Economic Committee holds a hearing on "Evaluating the U.S. Competitiveness and Investment Advantages of a Destination-Based Cash Flow Tax."
House of Representatives
· Wednesday, March 4, 10:00 a.m. – The House Financial Services Committee holds a mark-up hearing on five pieces of legislation. You can see which bills and which amendments are under consideration HERE.
· Thursday, March 5, 10:00 a.m. – The House Financial Services Committee’s Subcommittee will hold a hearing entitled “Fighting Fraud on the Front Lines: Challenges and Opportunities for Financial Institutions.”
· Thursday, March 5, 2:00 p.m. – The House Financial Services Committee’s Capital Markets Subcommittee will hold a meeting entitled “The Role of Self-Regulatory Organizations in U.S. Markets: Examining FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority) and the MSRB (Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board)."
Federal Department & Regulatory Agency Meetings & Events
The White House
· Nothing significant to report.
Federal Reserve Board and Federal Reserve Banks
· Tuesday, March 3, 9:55 a.m. –New York Federal Reserve Bank President John Williams speaks before the ACU Governmental Affairs Conference 2026 organized by America's Credit Unions.
· Tuesday, March 3, 11:55 a.m. – Minneapolis Federal Reserve Bank President Neel Kashkari participates in a conversation before the 2026 Bloomberg Invest Conference.
· Thursday, March 5, 10:00 a.m. – Federal Reserve Board Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle W. Bowman speaks virtually at the “Navigating What’s Next: Perspective on the Economy & Innovation.”
· Friday, March 6, 1:30 p.m. – Cleveland Federal Reserve Bank President Beth Hammack participates in “On the Safe-haven Status of the Dollar" panel before the 2026 U.S. Monetary Policy Forum sponsored by the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
U.S. Treasury Department
· Friday, March 6, Noon – US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent delivers a keynote address at the SIEPR Economic Summit at Stanford University, Stanford, California.
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
· Tuesday, March 3, 9:00 a.m. – SEC Chair Paul Atkins will participate in the opening plenary of the Milken Institute's Future of Finance 2026 event in Washington D.C. He will be joined by CFTC Chairman Michael Selig, and the conversation will focus on modernizing market regulation.
· Wednesday, March 4, 1:00 p.m. – The SEC will hold a Private Market Roundtable to discuss “governance, valuation, and other considerations with the aim of promoting responsible retailization.”
· Thursday, March 5, 2:00 p.m. – The SEC will hold a Closed Meeting.
Commodities Futures Trading Commission
· Tuesday, March 3, 9:00 a.m. – CFTC Chair Michael Selig will participate in the opening plenary of the Milken Institute's Future of Finance 2026 event in Washington D.C. He will be joined by SEC Chair Paul Atkins, and the conversation will focus on modernizing market regulation.
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
· There are no significant events scheduled at this time.
Farm Credit System 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
· Sunday – Thursday, March 1 – 5 – The Government Affairs Conference 2026, the largest and most influential government relations conference for the credit union industry, runs through March 5th in Washington, D.C. New York Federal Reserve Bank President & CEO John Williams will speak.
Think Tanks and Other Events
· Monday, March 2, 1:00 p.m. – The New America holds a virtual discussion entitled "A Quarter of U.S. Homes Cost Under $200,000. Why Can't Families Buy Them?
· Wednesday, March 4, 11:00 a.m. – The Bipartisan Policy Center holds a discussion on "Is Homeownership Still Part of the American Dream?"
Please let us know if you have any questions or would like to be added to our email distribution list.