Updated May 21, 2025 - Business

Trump floats bringing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac public

Rebecca Falconer

President Trump speaks in the Oval Office at the White House on May 20. — President Trump speaks Tuesday at the White House. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

President Trump said Wednesday he's "giving very serious consideration" to bringing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the government-sponsored mortgage giants, public.

The big picture: Trump said on Truth Social he'll speak with officials including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Federal Housing Finance Agency director William Pulte, about the matter "and will be making a decision in the near future."

He added, "Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are doing very well, throwing off a lot of CASH, and the time would seem to be right. Stay tuned!"

Why it matters: The two companies combined support some 70% of U.S. mortgages.

Between the lines: Changing the structure of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac poses risk to the economy — and at the least could raise mortgage rates even further, per Axios' Felix Salmon and Emily Peck.

Flashback: Before Trump took office, there was a broad-based desire to wrest Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac from federal control and the Biden Treasury Department and Federal Housing Finance Agency, which oversees the two companies, released a roadmap for how privatization could work.

Editor's note: This article has been updated with new details throughout.

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Trump floats bringing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac public

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