Trump Admin’s Continued Fannie-Freddie IPO Musings Raise Key Questions

The Trump Administration is once again putting Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac at the center of U.S. housing finance. According to Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Director William J. Pulte, the government continues to consider floating a 5% stake in the two government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) via an initial public offering. The transaction, which could raise as much as $30 billion, would mark the most significant step toward releasing the GSEs from government conservatorship since they were seized in 2008 during the global financial crisis. The administration initially teased an IPO of that scope last month, suggesting it could happen in...