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The FHFA director’s move this week to impose an “adverse market fee” of 0.5% on most refinanced mortgages will shift billions out of the hands of American consumers and into the hands of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac — and their private shareholders.

The new “adverse market fee” for refinanced mortgages resembles steps the companies took to combat the 2008 mortgage crisis. But critics charge it isn’t necessary and will hurt borrowers’ ability to tap into low rates.

As attorney general, Harris supervised California’s litigation over bank mortgage policies and held out in multistate settlement negotiations with Bank of America Corp., Citigroup Inc. and other lenders to force the banks to raise their offers.

A second-term Trump administration would likely continue its deregulatory efforts, focus on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac's exit from conservatorship, and seek to facilitate fintech participation in the banking system.

Whoever wins the White House in November may have immediate agency openings to fill, while a key decision looms about who will run the Federal Reserve after Jerome Powell’s term expires in 2022.

The Federal Reserve Racial and Economic Equity Act would direct the Fed to consider racial inequality in employment, income and access to affordable credit when making monetary policy and in its regulation and supervision of banks.

Kathy Kraninger told the House Financial Services Committee that she supports proposed action to revamp the bureau's leadership framework following a major Supreme Court decision.

Democrats Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Brian Schatz of Hawaii have sent a letter to CEO Charlie Scharf demanding a response to news reports that the bank has been placing borrowers into forbearance plans without their consent.

Whalen: "It is tempting to think that low interest rates will cure all ills in the housing sector, but this view is seriously in error, as we learned in 2008."

The Trump administration's executive order to terminate and replace federal enforcement of anti-discrimination policies at the local level, citing the burden it put on municipalities, enraged advocates of equitable housing practices.