Trump administration eyes move to privatize Fannie, Freddie, WSJ says

The Trump administration is considering an executive order on housing that may push for the privatization of home loan giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing a person familiar with the matter. 

Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said privatization efforts would need to consider mortgage rate impacts, WSJ noted. The potential directive could task federal departments with exploring this initiative.

The White House said in a statement to the Journal that industry leaders "have responded to President Trump's America First economic agenda of tariffs, deregulation, and the unleashing of American energy with trillions in investment commitments that will create thousands of new jobs."

Speculation has grown about the fate of the so-called government-sponsored enterprises in recent days. 

Bessent last week said the government's stakes in Fannie and Freddie could eventually become part of the proposed US sovereign wealth fund.