Officials announced on Wednesday that two Democratic members of the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) have been dismissed by the Trump administration.
Todd Harper, one of the Democratic board members, shared news of his dismissal on LinkedIn, stating that the termination was “totally unjust.”
“The decision by the White House to terminate my position prior to the end of my term is erroneous. It undermines the bipartisan legal structure established by Congress to safeguard credit union members and their deposits,” Harper expressed in a statement.
Harper contended that the firing was an assault on the NCUA, jeopardizing the organization’s autonomy and function. The NCUA oversees credit unions and protects credit members.
“If the President can remove NCUA board members at will, how can we preserve public trust in our nation’s financial services regulatory framework?” he questioned.
The other Democratic member, Teina Otska, was also dismissed. Their exits leave only one member remaining on the board under Republican Chairman Kyle Hauptman. As reported by Reuters.
In another statement noted by Reuters, Great Tuka mentioned he received an email on Tuesday night about his immediate dismissal, describing it as “yet another effort to weaken the rule of law and blatantly disregard Congress and our democratic principles.”
Harper was appointed by President Trump in 2019 and took over as chairperson in 2021 under former President Biden. His term was scheduled to end in 2027. Otska was nominated by Biden, with her term lasting until 2029.
White House spokesperson Caroline Leavitt defended the dismissals, stating that Trump is “the chief executive of the administration and has the authority to let go of anyone he wishes.”
This marks the latest in the administration’s attempts to dismantle independent regulatory agencies.
Last month, the administration also removed two members of the Federal Trade Commission. The prior commissioner was informed that their role was “misaligned” with the administration’s directives, though no further details were provided. The FTC enforces antitrust regulations and consumer protections independent from the White House.
The various dismissals have sparked discussions regarding the institutional independence of administrative agencies and their current impact on the American populace.
