US Lawmakers Push for Full CFTC Leadership as CLARITY Act Gains Momentum

Top leaders of the House Agriculture Committee are urging President Donald Trump to appoint new commissioners to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission as Congress moves closer to expanding the agency’s role in crypto regulation.

Committee Chairman Glenn Thompson and Ranking Member Angie Craig sent a joint letter calling for a complete five-member bipartisan commission at the CFTC. They argued that stronger leadership would help the agency handle upcoming crypto oversight responsibilities and create more stable regulations for financial markets.

Currently, CFTC Chairman Michael Selig is the agency’s only commissioner after several departures left four seats vacant. During testimony before lawmakers in April, Selig discussed a major rulemaking agenda tied to digital assets and derivatives markets.

CLARITY Act Could Expand CFTC Power Over Crypto

The push for new commissioners comes shortly after the Senate Banking Committee advanced the CLARITY Act in a 15-9 bipartisan vote. The proposed legislation would give the CFTC broader authority over spot digital commodity trading, making the agency a central regulator for parts of the crypto industry.

Lawmakers also warned that major policy decisions made by a single commissioner could face legal challenges in court. The committee letter stated that a full bipartisan panel would create “more durable rules” and improve confidence among market participants.

Reports earlier this year suggested the White House was considering several Republican and Democratic candidates for the open positions, but no formal nominations have been announced so far.