ALEXANDRIA, Va.–With John Crews still not sworn in to a position on the NCUA board, the absence of any board members at the agency has left it without leadership and has drawn media attention outside of credit unions.
As the CU Daily reported, Crews has been confirmed by the Senate for a seat on the NCUA board. but must still be sworn in. In addition, the president must formally name him as chairman. When that occurs, Crews will become the 14th chairman of the agency, with a term that is to expire Aug. 2, 2031.
When Crews joins NCUA, he will also be the only member of what is supposed to be a three-member board. But the other two members of the board, Todd Harper and Tanya Otsuka, both Democrats, were fired by President Trump in April of 2025 and continue to pursue reinstatement in the courts.
The result of all that is that at least for now, the agency has no board members. Former Chairman Kyle Hauptman has already exited, having 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).
The absence of any board members has drawn media attention from publications that include Politico and Law 360.
Many Leaders in ‘Acting’ Roles
That leaves the agency under the management of staff, many of whom 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.
The CU Daily has contacted NCUA for comment.
