WASHINGTON–With NCUA dealing with a sizeable workforce reduction, six people in “acting” leadership roles, and a hiring freeze in place, America’s Credit Unions said it has not yet seen reasons to be overly concerned the agency isn’t doing its job.
As the CU Daily has reported, the agency has reduced headcount to 953 from 1,214 as part of a White House-ordered reduction in force, with those who have left doing so voluntarily and taking a buyout.
Asked for her concerns during a call with the media about whether the reductions are affecting the agency, Carrie Hunt, chief advocacy officer with America’s Credit Unions, pointed to comments made by NCUA Chairman Kyle Hauptman during the agency’s May board meeting that NCUA has changed its processes and even people who now hold more than one title are not really doing double-duty.
“When you have change of this magnitude and change that is happening at a fast clip, there’s always the potential for growing pains,” said Hunt. “Certainly, you have to make sure that any gaps are being filled.”
Hunt said her impression is NCUA remains very focused on its role overseeing safety and soundness.
Experience With Change
She added that NCUA also has some experience with dramatic change, having had to pivot during the financial crisis before when there was a sharp increase in the number of credit unions facing real and potential problems on their balance sheets.
“The agency has had to weather some pretty dramatic shifts in terms of workload in a very fast time period and certainly the corporate crisis comes to mind,” Hunt said.
