Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) that play a major role in the US housing finance system, have been in conservatorship since 2008. Many market participants anticipate the Trump administration will recapitalize these entities and release them from conservatorship.
Please join the Urban Institute as we continue to explore the issues surrounding the idea of releasing the GSEs from conservatorship through administrative action. During this third installment of our seminar series, you will hear a moderated discussion with three ex–GSE CEOs who served during conservatorship. They will address four important conservatorship-exit topics. First, how has conservatorship changed these organizations—both positively and negatively? Second, what are the potential pitfalls of recapitalization and release that policymakers need to consider? Third, assuming the GSEs exit conservatorship without major operational changes, what is their potential to serve the market better through more innovation? And fourth, what is the impact on the mortgage markets if they do not get released from conservatorship?