Key facts
- FHFA, led by Trump appointee Bill Pulte, refused to provide records to its internal watchdog, according to a report.
- The report alleges the agency interfered with the watchdog's independence and blocked oversight of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
- The FHFA spokesperson denied the allegations, stating the agency has readily produced information and cooperated.
- The FHFA oversees Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which underpin the US housing market.
- The OIG has flagged an instance of FHFA interference to its independence for the first time in at least a decade.
A report reviewed by Reuters on Friday alleges that the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), led by Trump appointee Bill Pulte, refused to provide records to its internal watchdog. This obstruction, described as "unprecedented" by the report, interfered with congressionally mandated reviews of the agency’s oversight of mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The FHFA oversees these government-sponsored enterprises, which are crucial to the US housing market. The agency’s spokesperson denied the allegations, stating that FHFA has readily produced information and cooperated with its watchdog, citing numerous document requests and meetings completed. The report comes amid broader efforts by the Trump administration to weaken government inspectors general.