GSE reform

The regulator of the government-sponsored enterprises has substantial authority to intervene as a legislative stalemate continues.

The House Financial Services Committee has scheduled an FHFA oversight hearing for September in the wake of waste, fraud and abuse allegations.

The biggest impact may be to focus the administration’s efforts on selecting a nominee to succeed Director Mel Watt, whose term ends in January.

Fannie Mae’s treatment of a reperforming loan package helped drive up earnings by almost 41% to $4.5 billion, delivering a stronger dividend to Treasury ahead of a leadership change.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac remain in conservatorship nearly a decade after the financial crisis, and there’s still no end in sight.

The agency said multiple stakeholders had requested more time to evaluate the proposal.

Whoever succeeds current Director Mel Watt will have a front-and-center role in efforts to reform Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

The House Financial Services Committee chair also acknowledged that his capital-formation bill still faces a potentially tough Senate vote.

Michael Bright co-wrote a paper in 2016 that envisioned making the agency a backstop for the housing finance system, but appeared to distance himself from the proposal at his confirmation hearing.

The announcement comes as Fannie Mae promoted David Benson to serve as president of the government-sponsored enterprise.