All articles tagged with #fhfa
President Trump says acting Director of National Intelligence Bill Pulte will not be appointed permanently and will continue to lead the FHFA and chair Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac in a short-term acting capacity while the search for a long-term DNI continues, as critics on Capitol Hill question his lack of intelligence experience; the move follows controversy around Tulsi Gabbard and ongoing DNI deliberations.
President Trump appointed Bill Pulte, head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, as acting director of national intelligence, a move that places a loyal Trump ally in a top security role while he continues to oversee FHFA's work with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac; the decision drew mixed reactions from Republicans and Democrats about loyalty versus experience and potential conflicts in dual roles.
President Donald Trump named FHFA Director Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence, elevating a controversial housing regulator with a history of political maneuvering to the nation’s top intel job and signaling that loyalty may trump traditional qualifications. The appointment showcases Trump using FHFA as a political tool, amid clashes with economy and monetary officials, while supporters hail Pulte’s loyalty and perceived effectiveness, and critics warn of a lack of national-security credentials and potential politicization of intelligence ahead of the 2026 midterms.
President Trump named Bill Pulte, head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, as acting director of national intelligence, taking over from Tulsi Gabbard. Pulte has used his FHFA perch to push for investigations into Trump’s perceived political enemies.
President Donald Trump named Bill Pulte, head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, as acting director of national intelligence, replacing Tulsi Gabbard who will resign on June 30. Pulte has no prior intelligence background and will keep his FHFA duties as well as chair roles at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Earlier Trump had said Aaron Lukas would become acting DNI after Gabbard’s departure, but the White House did not immediately clarify when Pulte would assume the DNI role.
Rep. Eric Swalwell has dropped his November lawsuit accusing Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte of using mortgage investigations to silence opponents, arguing it violated the First Amendment and privacy protections. Pulte had referred Swalwell to the DOJ over alleged mortgage and tax fraud related to a Washington home, which Swalwell denies. The governor’s residency dispute referenced in the coverage is being handled in a separate case; no comment was provided by Pulte.
The head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, William Pulte, has made an unusual and controversial criminal referral accusing Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook of mortgage fraud, prompting a formal investigation and political disputes, with experts questioning the legitimacy and motives behind the referral.
The article discusses how Donald Trump is using the federal housing data, particularly mortgage records held by the FHFA, as a tool for political targeting, similar to past abuses of the IRS for political purposes. It highlights the lack of confidentiality protections for mortgage data compared to tax returns and calls for legislative reforms to prevent such misuse in the future.
Federal Reserve Board member Lisa Cook has refused to resign despite President Trump calling for her ouster over allegations of mortgage fraud, which she denies and is investigating further. The controversy stems from claims by FHFA Director William Pulte that Cook designated her out-of-state condo as her primary residence shortly after taking a loan on her Michigan home, leading to a criminal referral to the Justice Department.
William J. Pulte, Chairman of the Board of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, expressed support for reports that Jerome Powell is considering resigning, believing it would benefit the U.S. economy.
FHFA Director Bill Pulte has called on Congress to investigate Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell for alleged political bias, deception, and financial misconduct, including a $2.5 billion scandal, following recent Fed decisions and statements.
The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) has announced the conforming loan limit (CLL) values for 2025, with the baseline CLL for one-unit properties set at $806,500, marking a 5.2% increase from 2024. This adjustment reflects the rise in average U.S. home prices as reported in the FHFA House Price Index. In high-cost areas, the loan limit can reach up to $1,209,750, which is 150% of the baseline limit. Special provisions apply to Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, where the baseline limit is also $1,209,750.
U.S. house price growth slowed significantly in March, with prices rising just 0.1% compared to 1.2% in February, as higher mortgage rates dampened demand. Despite this, year-over-year prices increased by 6.7%, and low housing inventory continues to support price appreciation. Existing home sales fell in March, but prices remain elevated due to limited supply.
The FHFA has canceled its plan to change a mortgage fee for people with certain debt-to-income ratios, which would have been levied on certain borrowers with DTI ratios above 40%. The fee was supposed to go into effect on May 1, with other changes based on credit score and loan size. The cancellation of the fee is a relief for many borrowers, as it would have hurt future mortgage borrowers. However, fee changes based on credit scores and down payment sizes went into effect on May 1, resulting in some people with high credit scores paying more than they would have prior to May 1.
The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) has withdrawn a proposed debt-to-income ratio fee change for home loan borrowers using Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac financing. The fee hike would have affected borrowers whose debt ratio was above 40%. The FHFA said it would provide additional transparency on the process for setting the Enterprises’ single-family guarantee fees and request public input on the issue. The agency is also facing controversy over its decision to update the fee structure on loan-level pricing fees.