Hood’s Nomination to NCUA Board Expires as 115th Congress Concludes

As the gavel fell on the Senate session of the 115th Congress, the nomination of Rodney Hood to serve on the NCUA board died.

For Hood to serve on the board, President Trump would have to re-nominate him since pending nominations expire at the end of each Congress. Hood never received a confirmation hearing before the Senate Banking Committee.

President Trump nominated Hood, a former vice chairman of the NCUA board, to replace Rick Metsger. Metsger has continued to serve on the board until a successor is confirmed.

The NCUA board has another vacancy: The seat previously held by Debbie Matz has been vacant since she resigned in April 2016.

Under law, only two members of the NCUA board may be members of the president’s political party.

Board Chairman J. Mark McWatters is a Republican, as is Hood. Metsger is a Democrat.

And McWatters’ nomination expires in August. That means Trump will have the opportunity to appoint all three members of the NCUA board.

Trump would not be required to re-nominate Hood; he could select someone else for the seat.

Sources in the credit union community have said that Trump would likely nominate a Democrat before Hood’s nomination is considered. That would allow the Senate to pair the nominations, a process that may ease confirmation.

McWatters and Metsger have said they have developed a good working relationship while serving as the only members of the board.

Nonetheless, credit union trade groups said they want a three-member board.

“We will continue to push for a full NCUA board,” Carrie Hunt, NAFCU’s EVP of government affairs and general counsel, said.

“There’s been leadership there,” Ryan Donovan, CUNA’s chief advocacy officer, said. However, he added, “We would like to see a full NCUA board.”

Asked if the administration might be neglecting the NCUA, Donovan said, “I wouldn’t read too much into it.”