SEC CFTC Nominees: Trump Names Four Picks to Fill Empty Seats

Trump Sends Four Regulator Picks to the Senate

Crypto news from Washington: the White House sent four SEC CFTC nominees to the Senate on November 12, 2026. The list covers two seats at each agency and fills none of them yet.

The official White House nominations page names each person, home state, seat, and term end. It does not list hearing dates. All four picks still need confirmation before they can serve.

Both agencies are designed to operate with five commissioners, subject to bipartisan membership limits. Vacancies can reduce the number of commissioners participating in decisions on market structure, enforcement, and digital asset policy. 

Who Are the Four Nominees for the SEC and CFTC?

The slate of SEC CFTC nominees is bipartisan, with two Democrats and two Republicans. Here is the official list at a glance.

Kristin Johnson is a former CFTC commissioner appointed under President Biden. She left that agency in 2025 and would now join the SEC. Steven Levine has worked at the White House Council of Economic Advisers.

Nathan Anonick has served as counsel on the Senate Agriculture Committee. Matthew Rowland is a CFTC attorney who was detailed to that committee and once worked on Johnson’s staff. That committee oversees the CFTC, so both picks know its work well.

Which Vacant SEC and CFTC Seats Would Each Nominee Fill?

Commissioner terms at both agencies run five years and are staggered. That is why the four terms end in different years.

At the SEC, Johnson would replace Caroline Crenshaw and Levine would replace Hester Peirce. Both outgoing terms have expired. Peirce is widely seen as a crypto-friendly commissioner.

At the CFTC, Anonick would replace Rostin Behnam, whose term has expired. Rowland would take Summer Mersinger’s seat and serve the rest of a term ending April 13, 2028.

What the SEC CFTC Nominees Mean for Crypto Oversight

Both agencies oversee parts of the digital asset market, so each seat matters for crypto regulation news. Anonick and Rowland both worked on the CLARITY Act, the market structure bill for digital assets. Digital assets also touch both agencies’ rules on securities, derivatives, and market conduct, which is why one slate covers both.

Johnson already knows the CFTC well. Levine would take the seat of a commissioner known for backing crypto. Even so, a nomination alone changes no rule.

Exchanges and trading firms will likely watch the process closely. Any real effect on policy depends on who is confirmed and when. Nominee backgrounds are context, not a forecast of future votes.

What Happens Next as the Senate Reviews the Picks

SEC nominees normally go before the Senate Banking Committee. The committee holds a hearing and votes before the full Senate acts.

CFTC nominees normally go before the Senate Agriculture Committee. The same steps follow, ending with a full Senate vote. Schedules can shift, so timing remains uncertain. Until then, both agencies keep working with their current members.

The official record does not yet show hearing dates, vote counts, or policy positions.

In short, the SEC CFTC nominees give both agencies a path to more members, but only if the Senate confirms them. Readers can follow the next regulatory update as hearings are scheduled.

Disclaimer: This article is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered financial or investment advice. Always conduct your own research before making investment decisions.