ALEXANDRIA, Va.--John Crews has been officially sworn in as chairman of the National Credit Union Administration board, NCUA reported Monday, ending an extraordinary period in which the federal regulator operated without a single sitting board member.
As CUToday.info recently reported, the agency had been without a board member since Kyle Hauptman departed to join the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. Crews had already won Senate confirmation but had not taken the oath of office, leaving career NCUA staff overseeing day-to-day operations while the industry waited for the agency's governing board to be reconstituted.
The Senate confirmed Crews on Aug. 7 by a 51-47 vote, as CUToday.info previously reported. President Donald Trump nominated Crews to fill the NCUA board seat previously held by Todd Harper, whom Trump removed in 2025 along with fellow Democratic board member Tanya Otsuka. Crews' confirmation followed months of uncertainty surrounding the composition and authority of the NCUA board.
Crews most recently served in the Treasury Department. His arrival comes as NCUA is pursuing a broad deregulatory agenda while also confronting major policy questions involving credit union powers, examinations, capital, digital assets and other issues affecting federally insured credit unions.
Anthony Hernandez
Crews' swearing in restores at least one presidentially appointed policymaker to an agency that oversees and insures more than $2 trillion in credit union assets. Attention will now turn to how quickly the Trump Administration moves to establish Crews' leadership role at NCUA and what priorities he sets for the agency.
“I appreciate the trust and support that the President has placed in me, and the U.S. Senate for confirming me. I would also like to thank outgoing Chairman Kyle Hauptman for his nearly six years of service at NCUA and for the thoughtful regulatory reform effort he led as chairman," Crews stated in a release. "I intend to capitalize on the agency’s progress on two of the Administration’s most ambitious goals: enabling innovation and right sizing the regulatory framework that governs the financial services industry.”
DCUC, ACU Congratulate Crews
“DCUC congratulates the Honorable John Crews on his official appointment as chairman of the National Credit Union Administration board,” said Anthony Hernandez, Defense Credit Union Council President/CEO, ret. U.S. Air Force colonel. “For nearly 50 years, the NCUA’s presidentially appointed board structure has provided accountable, balanced governance that has served the American people and credit union system well. DCUC is pleased to see Chairman Crews assume office and ensure strong governance and leadership over the agency as Congress intended. We look forward to working with Chairman Crews to advance priorities that continue to strengthen credit unions’ service to American families and military communities nationwide.”
Jason Stverak
“The NCUA plays an essential role in ensuring credit unions can continue delivering trusted, cooperative financial services with the oversight and guidance required to meet members’ needs,” added Jason Stverak, DCUC chief advocacy officer. “More than 145 million Americans rely on credit unions every day, including more than 40 million military, veteran, and defense-affiliated members, for financial readiness, guidance, and support. DCUC is eager to engage with the Honorable John Crews to support these vital services and reinforce the credit union mission across our cooperative movement.”
Scott Simpson
Scott Simpson, America’s Credit Unions president/CEO, said, “America’s Credit Unions, Leagues, credit unions and their members welcome John Crews as he begins his work at the NCUA, and we congratulate him on his chairmanship. His leadership will be a benefit to the future of the credit union industry, and we look forward to working closely with him to achieve a regulatory environment that allows credit unions to thrive. The safety and soundness of the industry is paramount, and this can be achieved alongside meaningful regulatory modernization, enhanced access, and innovation. We also thank former Chairman Kyle Hauptman for his many years of service to the credit union industry, and his efforts to reduce regulatory burdens. We wish him the best in his new role on the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.”