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(Reuters) – The U.S. Treasury Department is reportedly formulating recommendations aimed at streamlining various banking regulators, according to a report by Semafor on Monday. This initiative reflects a desire for increased oversight over the nation’s largest financial institutions.
The proposed changes may have implications for key regulatory bodies, including the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), as detailed by sources familiar with the discussions.
At the time of reporting, neither the Treasury Department, FDIC, nor OCC had responded to inquiries from Reuters regarding these developments.
This move follows a broader trend seen during the Trump administration, characterized by an expansive interpretation of presidential powers. Recently, an executive order was issued that grants the White House increased authority over independent regulatory agencies.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s efforts to assert more control over banking regulators are in alignment with this overarching strategy, as outlined in the Semafor report.
Should these recommendations be adopted, they would contribute to a series of proactive measures taken by the administration, which have included efforts to defund federal programs and halt billions in spending that had previously received congressional approval.
In addition, there are ongoing efforts to alter the landscape of the financial sector and ease regulatory burdens. Notably, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), a key agency responsible for consumer protection, has seen a substantial reduction in its activities following directives from the Trump administration to suspend operations.
Moreover, the OCC has taken significant steps recently, including the termination of 76 probationary staff members, indicating a shift in its operational focus.
(Reporting by Ateev Bhandari and Niket Nishant in Bengaluru; Editing by Shilpi Majumdar)
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finance.yahoo.com