ALEXANDRIA, Va.–After operating for nearly two weeks without any board members to oversee the agency, John Crews has officially been sworn in to become its next chairman.
As the CU Daily reported, Crews had been confirmed by the Senate for a seat on the NCUA board. but has not been named chairman. Crews now becomes the 14th chairman of the agency, with a term that is to expire Aug. 2, 2031.
Like Kyle Hauptman before him, Crews will also be the only member of what is supposed to be a three-member board, as the other two members of the board, Todd Harper and Tanya Otsuka, both Democrats continue to pursue reinstatement in the courts after they were fired by President Trump in April of 2025.
Hauptman has since been sworn into his new job as a board member of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB). His swearing in took place at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
“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.,” said Crews in a statement. “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.
“My priorities include safeguarding the interests of credit union member-owners, promoting regulatory efficiency, maintaining a strong and healthy National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund, and supporting initiatives that promote access to affordable financial services nationwide,” Crews added.
America’s Credit Unions: ‘Benefit to the Future’
“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,” President and CEO Scott Simposon said in a statement. “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.”
DCUC: Looking Forward to ‘Strong Governance’
“DCUC congratulates the Honorable John Crews on his official appointment as Chairman of the National Credit Union Administration Board,” Anthony Hernandez, DCUC president/CEO, Ret. U.S. Air Force Colonel, said in a statement. “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.”
“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,” Jason Stverak, DCUC Chief Advocacy Officer, added in a statement. “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 Chairman Crews to support these vital services and reinforce the credit union mission across our cooperative movement.”
Many Leaders in ‘Acting’ Roles
As Crews joins the agency at its Alexandria, Va. headquarters, he will find an agency under the management of numerous senior staff who continue to serve in “acting” positions as a result of staff reductions made in 2025 as part of the Trump Administration’s DOGE initiative, which cut NCUA staff by 20%.
Larry Fazio is NCUA’s executive director, with Kelly Lay serving as acting deputy executive director and as acting director of the Office of Continuity and Security Management.
Larry Kreoger is acting chief of staff, and Sierra Robinson is director of the Office of External Affairs and Communications.
Others in NCUA senior management who are currently serving as “acting” positions include Melane Conyers-Ausbrooks, board secretary and acting director of the Office of Minority and Women Inclusion and Acting Equal Employment Opportunity director; Melissa Lodwn, acting CFO, and Amanda Parkhill, acting director of the Office of Examination and Insurance.
