The Trump administration has announced plans to nominate Dana T. Wade as commissioner of the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and as assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
The FHA commissioner post would become vacant if current head Brian Montgomery is confirmed as deputy secretary of HUD by a full Senate vote. He has served as HUD’s deputy secretary on an acting basis since December 2018.
Wade, meanwhile, already has experience at the FHA’s helm. Previously, she was the agency’s acting federal housing commissioner and assistant secretary for housing from July 2017 to June 2018. During that time, she upgraded risk-management procedures and monitoring of the FHA’s $1.3 trillion portfolio, according to a statement from the White House.
She also had a stint as program associate director for general government at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), where she led budget oversight for six executive-branch agencies. Additionally, she previously held senior staff positions in Congress, serving as deputy staff director for the Senate Banking Committee and as Republican deputy staff director for the Senate Appropriations Committee.
“Dana Wade is a spectacular individual who has been enormously valuable to President Trump and this department,” HUD secretary Ben Carson said. “We appreciate Brian Montgomery’s continued stable leadership and are elated with Dana’s nomination. We look forward to Dana’s very capable, guiding hand at FHA and urge the Senate to swiftly confirm her.”
Robert Broeksmit, president of the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), praised the choice in a statement.
“MBA applauds the intention to nominate Dana Wade to lead the Federal Housing Administration,” he said. “Her extensive knowledge gained in previous roles, including on Capitol Hill and within the OMB, and also as the acting FHA commissioner and assistant secretary for housing, will serve her well in this new position.”
