Trump Removes NCUA Democrats, Leaving GOP Chair Only

President Donald Trump dismissed the two Democratic members of the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) board, Todd Harper and Tanya Otsuka, whose terms were set to expire in 2027 and 2029, leaving only Republican Chairman Kyle Hauptman on the board. Harper and Otsuka condemned the move as politically motivated and damaging to regulatory independence and consumer protection. The White House asserted that the president has the authority to remove executive branch officials at will. Senator Elizabeth Warren and other critics argue that the action undermines the rule of law and the bipartisan structure of independent agencies. These firings follow similar removals at bodies like the Federal Trade Commission, fueling debate about the erosion of independent oversight in U.S. financial regulation. The controversy has heightened concerns over public trust and the balance of power in regulatory agencies.