President Trump on Wednesday evening said he is seriously considering taking mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac public.
The Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac) guarantee a majority of US mortgages.
Recall that government-sponsored Fannie and Freddie were placed under conservatorship in 2008. The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) took control over the two mortgage giants during the 2008 liquidity crisis.
President Trump said Fannie and Freddie are doing well and throwing off a lot of cash.
“I am giving very serious consideration to bringing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac public. I will be speaking with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, and the Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, William Pulte, among others, and will be making a decision in the near future. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are doing very well, throwing off a lot of CASH, and the time would seem to be right. Stay tuned!” President Trump said on Wednesday evening.
Earlier this year Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that any release of Fannie and Freddie from their conservatorship would depend on what that would mean for mortgage rates.
The national average 30-year fixed rate mortgage is about 7.1%.
WATCH:
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says that any release of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac from their current conservatorship would depend on the implications for mortgage rates. He speaks with Bloomberg’s @SalehaMohsin https://t.co/KAKAEvBiJV pic.twitter.com/3waT3dSued
— Bloomberg TV (@BloombergTV) February 6, 2025
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