The U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs held a hearing on the nominations of Christopher Phelan to chair the Council of Economic Advisers, John Crews to serve on the National Credit Union Administration Board and Jeffrey Ledbetter to serve as inspector general at the Department of Housing and Urban Development. In opening remarks, Chairman Tim Scott framed the hearing as part of putting leadership in place to advance President Donald Trump’s agenda, with emphasis on lowering costs, expanding access to affordable financial services, protecting taxpayer dollars and improving agency accountability. Scott linked Phelan’s nomination to economic policy choices affecting household costs, wages, investment, growth and opportunity. He presented Crews’ prospective role at the National Credit Union Administration in terms of maintaining safety and soundness while avoiding regulatory burdens that could raise costs and restrict access to credit union services. For Ledbetter, Scott emphasized oversight of HUD programs, rooting out waste and mismanagement, and ensuring housing funds support affordable housing, renters, homeownership and housing supply needs.