Current National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) Chair Todd Harper has been confirmed by the U.S. Senate, in a 59-40 vote, to serve a full term in the position. Former President Donald Trump previously appointed Harper to fill a mid-term vacancy in 2019. President Joe Biden designated Harper as the NCUA board chair on January 20, 2021, and re-nominated Harper for his position on the board on August 6, 2021, following the expiration of Harper’s term.
As NCUA chair, Harper also serves as a voting member of the Financial Stability Oversight Council and represents that Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council and the Financial and Banking Information Infrastructure Committee.
Prior to his appointment to the NCUA board, Harper served as director of the agency’s Office of Public and Congressional Affairs and chief policy advisor to former Chairs Debbie Matz and Rick Metsger. He is the first member of the NCUA’s staff to become member and chair of the NCUA board.
Harper previously worked as staff director for the House Subcommittee on Capital markets, Insurance, and Government Sponsored Enterprises and as legislative director and senior legislative assistant to former Rep. Paul Kanjorski (D-Pa.). In these roles, Harper contributed to major financial services laws like the Gramm-leach-Bliley Act in 1999 and the Dodd-Frank Act in 2010.
During his hearing before the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, Democrats used the opportunity to praise the work he had done during his time on the NCUA board and as its chair.
Republicans on the Senate Banking Committee had a more critical view of Harper’s time as NCUA chair.
“Before he was named NCUA’s chair in January 2021, he appeared to have a reasonable approach to regulation and a good working relationship with his colleagues,” Ranking Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) said. “However, since being named chair, Mr. Harper’s been too willing to put the administration's global warming agenda ahead of the sensible regulation of our country’s credit unions.”
Harper will now serve a full six-year term on the NCUA board which will expire April 10, 2027.
“I am grateful to President Biden for nominating me to serve a full term on the NCUA’s board and humbled by today’s bipartisan confirmation vote,” Harper said. “In the years ahead, my focus will remain on credit union members, the system’s resiliency and strength, and the NCUA’s readiness to respond to an evolving economic environment, credit union system and financial services marketplace. Consistent with the law, I will also continue prioritizing capital and liquidity, cybersecurity, consumer financial protection and diversity, equity, and inclusion.”