The US Senate has confirmed William Pulte as the next director of the regulator overseeing housing giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The vote was 56-43 in favor of his confirmation, clearing the way for him to lead the Federal Housing Finance Agency.
Pulte, a private equity executive, was nominated by President Donald Trump in January. He is expected to play a key role in any effort to return Fannie and Freddie to private control. The regulator will oversee the two housing giants, which have operated under US government control since 2008 after suffering heavy losses during the subprime mortgage crisis.
The Trump administration has expressed its intention to end the long-running conservatorship of these companies. Pulte has stated that any removal of government backing must be carefully planned to minimize disruptions to the housing market.
Pulte’s confirmation marks an important step towards this goal, and his leadership at the FHFA will be closely watched as the administration works to return Fannie and Freddie to private ownership.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/senate-approves-pulte-fannie-freddie-regulator-2025-03-13