Published on January 20, 2025
This presidential action appears to be a broad reorganization of leadership positions across multiple federal regulatory agencies and commissions, issued on January 20, 2025, which notably coincides with the first day of a new presidential term. The directive designates new chairs and acting chairs to key oversight bodies including the FCC, FTC, SEC, EEOC, and several other crucial regulatory agencies that oversee communications, energy, financial markets, labor relations, and civil rights.
The timing and comprehensive nature of this leadership overhaul suggests a coordinated effort to reshape federal regulatory oversight in a single swift action, potentially circumventing the usual scrutiny such appointments might receive if done separately. The selection of multiple "acting" chairs rather than permanent appointments could be a strategic move to bypass Senate confirmation requirements, while the simultaneous nature of these appointments could overwhelm public and media attention, making it difficult to properly scrutinize each individual's background and potential conflicts of interest.
While presented as a routine leadership transition, this sweeping reorganization represents a significant consolidation of regulatory control that warrants careful public scrutiny. The simultaneous replacement of leadership across agencies that oversee critical aspects of the economy, civil rights, and public communications could fundamentally alter the regulatory landscape and enforcement priorities of these agencies in ways that may not become apparent until well after the changes are implemented.
I hereby designate the following: Brendan CarrChairman of the Federal Communications CommissionMark ChristieChairman of Federal Energy Regulatory CommissionHenry KernerActing Chairman of the Merit Systems Protection BoardAndrew FergusonChair of the Federal Trade CommissionMarvin KaplanChair of the National Labor Relations BoardDavid WrightChair of the Nuclear Regulatory CommissionMark UyedaActing Chair of the Securities and Exchange CommissionAndrea LucasActing Chair of the Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionTravis HillActing Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Federal Deposit Insurance CorporationKyle HauptmanChair of the National Credit Union Administration BoardPeter KirsanowChairperson of the United States Commission on Civil RightsSteven GilchrestVice Chairperson of the United States Commission on Civil RightsJeffrey HallChair of the Farm Credit Administration Board, Farm Credit AdministrationPatrick FuchsChair of the Surface Transportation BoardLouis E. SolaChair of the Federal Maritime Commission THE WHITE HOUSE, January 20, 2025.