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Agency board Chairman Todd Harper confirmed amidst opposition from Republicans, support from Department of Justice.
The Senate on Wednesday confirmed Democratic National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) Chairman Todd Harper to serve a full, six-year term on the agency’s board through April of 2027.
The vote ended 59–40, with many Republicans opposing the nomination. Some Republicans have been outspoken in their opposition to Harper’s policies, while others have even questioned the legality of the nomination itself.
Harper had been nominated in 2019 to complete the term of Debbie Matz, who had left the board. In August, President Biden nominated Harper to serve a full, six-year term.
NCUA Board Chairman Todd Harper
Republican Opposition
When the Senate Banking Committee approved Harper for a full term on the board earlier this year, its ranking Republican Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania questioned the move’s legality.
At issue was the Federal Credit Union Act, which states, “Board members shall not be appointed to succeed themselves except the initial members appointed for less than a six-year term may be reappointed for a full six-year term and future members appointed to fill unexpired terms may be reappointed for a full six-year term.”
Toomey said that Harper’s reappointment violates the prohibition on a board member serving successive terms.
DOJ Backing
However, in December, 2021, Assistant Attorney General Christopher Schroeder wrote a memo to the White House Legal Counsel stating that the Department of Justice (DOJ) believed Harper could be nominated for a full term.
“We conclude that Chairman Harper’s first appointment as a member of the Board was to an ‘unexpired term’ and he therefore is eligible for reappointment,” Schroeder wrote.
Before joining the board, Harper served as director of the agency’s Office of Public and Congressional Affairs and chief policy advisor to Matz and former board member Rick Metsger. He is the first member of the NCUA’s staff to become an NCUA board member.
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