WASHINGTON—The U.S. Senate, 51-47, has confirmed John Crews to the NCUA board, clearing the way for him to succeed Kyle Hauptman and return the agency to a single-member board following the Trump Administration's removal of Democratic board members Todd Harper and Tanya Otsuka earlier this year.
Crews, who most recently served in the Treasury Department, has said his priorities include reducing regulatory burden for smaller credit unions, encouraging innovation and supporting the chartering of new credit unions, while maintaining the safety and soundness of the credit union system and protecting the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund. His confirmation comes as the NCUA continues an aggressive regulatory review aimed at eliminating or modernizing outdated rules.
Hauptman, whose board term expired in August 2025, remained at the agency while awaiting confirmation of his successor after being appointed earlier this year to the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. With Crews now confirmed, the leadership transition at the NCUA is expected to move forward, although the board will continue operating with a single member until additional nominations are made and confirmed.
Crews' confirmation also comes at a pivotal time for the agency as it weighs not only regulatory relief initiatives, but also efforts to encourage the formation of new credit unions, and broader policy questions surrounding digital assets, payments innovation and the long-term health of the Share Insurance Fund. Credit union trade groups have consistently urged the Senate to fill the board vacancy, arguing that stable leadership is essential as the industry navigates a rapidly evolving regulatory and economic environment.
Trade Groups, Dennis Dollar Respond
"We commend Congress for confirming John Crews as NCUA Board Chairman," said Anthony Hernandez, DCUC president/CEO, ret. U.S. Air Force colonel. "This decision provides the credit union system with the balanced, thoughtful oversight needed to advance our cooperative mission across communities nationwide and overseas. More than 40 million military, veteran, and defense-affiliated members rely on their credit union as a trusted partner for financial readiness, and we look forward to engaging with Chairman Crews to strengthen these vital services across the cooperative movement."
“Chairman Crews brings a strong understanding of regulatory policy and public service to this leadership role," stated Jason Stverak, DCUC Chief Advocacy Officer. "As the credit union movement faces evolving economic shifts and technological innovations, DCUC remains committed to working alongside the NCUA to ensure regulatory framework empowers credit unions and their members to thrive."
DCUC pointed out that during the confirmation process, it sent letters to Congressional oversight committees highlighting several key priorities aligned with Crews' testimony:
- Maintaining the foundational stability of the credit union system
- Supporting efficient, risk-based regulation that accounts for institutional size and operational differences
- Preparing for technological advancement while safeguarding member assets
- Encouraging the growth of new credit unions to serve underbanked and military communities
- Preserving an open, accessible, and collaborative dialogue between the NCUA and the credit union movement
America’s Credit Unions congratulated Crews.
“An effective credit union regulator must be properly equipped to oversee the industry, while providing access to the tools to take on today’s modern financial landscape,” said America’s Credit Unions President/CEO Scott Simpson. “Throughout his career, Crews has shown a measured and thoughtful approach to innovation, stability, and expanding access to affordable financial services. His experience will be an asset to the agency. We look forward to working with Crews to advance modern regulatory framework, and we encourage President Trump to proceed with nominations to fill the three-person NCUA Board.”
Dennis Dollar
Former NCUA Chairman Dennis Dollar commented on the skills Crews brings to his new role at the agency.
“John Crews’ background is incredibly impressive with his time at the Treasury Department and having worked financial services issues for two credit union champions – former Senator Pat Toomey and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise,” stated the principal at Dollar Associates, based in Birmingham, Ala. “He has been strong in stating his belief in less regulatory overreach and a commitment to avoid using the supervisory process to regulate in areas where the regulatory authority is in question, such as with CUSOs.”
Dollar believes Crews is going to be an “effective” NCUA Chairman, “based upon everything I know of him and what I have learned through the vetting process since his nomination was announced. Any chairman that understands the concept of regulatory overreach and the danger of regulation through enforcement has the right philosophy and, in this case that is combined with a solid background as a free-market thinker working for the likes of (Scott) Bessent, Toomey and Scalise, is going to be well received as a fair regulator. I think credit unions will over time—although no one agrees with their regulator all the time—see him through as positive a lens as it is possible to do with the natural tension between the regulator and regulated. It can be a healthy tension, and I feel that it will with Chairman Crews.”