President Donald Trump has fired two Democratic board members from the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), escalating his efforts to reshape independent regulatory agencies. Todd Harper and Tanya Otsuka confirmed Wednesday they were removed, leaving only Republican Chairman Kyle Hauptman on the three-member board overseeing the $2.3 trillion credit union sector.
Harper, whose term was set to run through 2027, called the move “politically motivated” and harmful to consumers. Otsuka, who was confirmed in 2023 for a term through 2029, said her abrupt termination “undermines the rule of law.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the decision, stating, “President Trump is the chief executive… and reserves the right to fire anyone he wants.” The firings follow Trump’s broader campaign to remove Democrats from independent federal boards, including the Federal Trade Commission and labor agencies, with some cases now facing legal challenges in federal courts and the U.S. Supreme Court.
