WASHINGTON—Noting he has no crystal ball, America’s Credit Unions President and CEO Jim Nussle said he and his organization are uncertain about what the future looks like at NCUA.
As CUToday.info reported, President Donald Trump Wednesday removed the two Democratic NCUA board members, Todd Harper and Tanya Otsuka.
During a call with the media, Nussle stressed ACU is making no predictions on what will transpire at the agency over the coming weeks and months, noting, however, that it is possible for NCUA Chairman Kyle Hauptman to hold a board meeting with only himself at the table, and that maintaining NCUA’s independence is a priority—with all of this set against the backdrop of the CU tax fight.
Nussle said America’s Credit Unions has been in contact with NCUA, including having a conversation with Hauptman.
Nussle prefaced his remarks by saying ACU had suspected there would be changes coming at the agency, given what had already occurred at other federal agencies during Donald Trump’s second term in office.
“However, the timing of (the removal of Board Members Todd Harper and Tanya Otsuka) is certainly not something that anybody really predicted,” Nussle said. “I hope we’ll get better clarity on how the NCUA believes they can and will proceed.”
Nussle said ACU anticipates a nominations process will be forthcoming, adding, though, there could be legal challenges to Trump’s decision.
Nussle emphasized ACU is following this matter closely. Early next week the trade group plans to hold a coordinated call with the leagues, as well as conducting a number of member webinars “to update them on whatever has transpired over the course of these next few days.”