WASHINGTON–The credit union trade groups have been remaining as neutral as possible when it comes to much of what has been coming out of Washington and the White House, including big job reductions at agencies that are served by credit unions, as well as lining up any specific members of Congress to champion credit union priorities.

During a call with the media, Jason Stverak, chief advocacy officer with the Defense CU Council, declined to identify anyone in specific to whom credit unions have turned to in Congress at a time when some very sensitive issues are being debated, including White House oversight of NCUA, the potential consolidation of regulatory agencies, and the credit union tax exemption. 

“We have a lot of allies on Capitol Hill,” he said instead.

The credit union trade groups have traditionally been non-partisan.

Many of those long-time CU supporters have encountered a powerful bank lobby, according to Stverak,  which is backing a “continual assault” on credit union priorities. We just need to continue to tell the credit union story and…in the end if we do everything correct I think we’ll be successful.”

Stverak said DCUC has not done any sort of polling on Capitol Hill on where it’s 535 members stand on credit union issues.

About the Layoffs

With tens of thousands of government employees out of work or threatened by the Trump administration with job terminations, Stverak said DCUC has already heard from member CUs with affected members, saying that in the D.C. area it has been “pretty life-altering.” The trade group is encouraging credit unions to do whatever they can to “help members get back on their feet.”

Stverak said DCUC has not done any outreach to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) or the administration.