U.S. President Donald Trump has not yet made a decision on the long-discussed plan to publicly relist mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, according to Federal Housing Director Bill Pulte. Speaking on Tuesday, Pulte confirmed that the president “has not made a decision yet” regarding “what if any shares he wants to sell in any type of public offering.” He also noted that Trump has yet to select a lead bank to manage the potential IPO.
The White House has been exploring ways to privatize Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, two key players in the U.S. housing finance system. However, concrete details remain unclear. Both entities have been under federal conservatorship since the 2008 financial crisis, during which the government intervened to stabilize the housing market. Today, the two firms guarantee more than half of all U.S. home mortgages, underscoring their critical role in the economy.
Formally known as the Federal National Mortgage Association (OTC: FNMA) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (OTC: FMCC), both continue to trade in over-the-counter markets. Despite Trump’s repeated calls to return them to private hands, no official timeline or structure for the privatization has been revealed.
In a recent statement on social media, Trump urged Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to “get big homebuilders going,” claiming that U.S. builders currently hold around two million vacant lots. Industry analysts view this as part of his broader push to stimulate housing construction and economic growth.
Meanwhile, major Wall Street banks are reportedly vying for the opportunity to lead the potential offering, according to The Wall Street Journal. Market observers are watching closely, as the eventual listing of the mortgage giants could become one of the most significant financial events in the U.S. housing market in recent years.