NCUA Chairman Kyle Hauptman testifying at the U.S. House Committee on Financial Services, Dec. 2, 2025.
NCUA Chairman Kyle Hauptman told lawmakers Tuesday that the agency is actively downsizing its workforce and embracing a streamlined future, with fewer employees and lighter regulatory burdens.
Testifying before the House Financial Services Committee, Hauptman said the NCUA’s total staff is on track to fall below 1,000 full-time equivalents by the end of this year. That would mark a notable decline from recent years and, he said, reflects a deliberate shift away from regulatory sprawl.
"To right-size our approach to safety and soundness, NCUA is doing several things to capitalize on the opportunities created by the Trump Administration to foster innovation," Hauptman said. "As a first priority, NCUA is carefully reviewing its regulations to remove any that are obsolete, overly prescriptive or unduly burdensome."
The NCUA, he noted, is preparing a new 2026–2030 strategic plan that centers on “Main Street priorities,” including credit union safety and soundness, modern liquidity tools and emerging technology oversight. He highlighted the launch of an AI Resources Page and the agency’s early implementation of the GENIUS Act, the newly-signed legislation giving the NCUA authority over payment stablecoins.
Despite macroeconomic headwinds and a slight uptick in delinquencies, Hauptman said the credit union system remains “strong, stable and growing,” with over 143 million members and $2.4 trillion in assets.
Looking ahead, he said the NCUA would continue simplifying guidance, supporting de novo charters and “stepping back” where federal oversight may be duplicative.
Hauptman’s testimony comes as the Todd Harper and Tanya Otsuka removal case remains pending in court and this legal battle has left him operating as the agency’s sole board member.
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