Leaders of the US House of Representatives Agriculture Committee called on President Donald Trump and requested the appointment of four new members to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). The Commission is experiencing one of the most extraordinary periods in its history, with new legislative proposals specifically focused on regulating digital asset markets being on the agenda. Currently, the institution is operating with understaffing, as only the institution’s president, Republican Mike Selig, serves on the commission.
Reason for appointment call
Commission chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson (Pennsylvania Republican) and representative Angie Craig (Minnesota Democrat) requested the appointment of four new members, consisting of both Democrats and Republicans, in the letter they sent to Trump on Friday. Representatives stated that a full board consisting of five members would be appropriate in terms of both market transparency and public interest.
The letter stated, “While the Commission continues its duty, the best way for the public, the market and the institution itself is to work with a full staff of five members.” Ensuring this is also essential for the quality of legislation and consideration of the diverse views of market stakeholders, Thomson and Craig argued.
New law and authority discussions
The US Congress and the White House are working on the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, which gives the CFTC the authority to regulate crypto asset markets. The bill aims to greatly expand the CFTC’s oversight of digital goods market transactions at the federal level. To this end, the agency needs to prepare for a comprehensive regulatory process.
In his speech at the Consensus Miami 2026 event recently, President Mike Selig emphasized that there is no legal obstacle to acting alone, but that the institution urgently needs a larger staff.
“Since the legislation does not require a quorum, I can maintain my authority as the head of the agency, but we are waiting for the president and the White House to evaluate new candidates for appointment to the CFTC,” he said. I think the institution should not slow down until this process is realized.
Lack of governance impacts future of crypto laws
The Trump administration has recently withdrawn Democratic members not only from the CFTC, but also from the management of different regulatory institutions such as the Fed. This extraordinary situation was also taken to the judiciary in some areas. The CFTC’s under-membership has become an important negotiating topic in the legislative process regarding crypto regulations.
It is reported that an important stage has been reached in the legislative process of the Clarity Act and the issue of establishing a full staff of the commission continues to remain on the table in the negotiations. Filling the gaps in the CFTC in a short time is of critical importance for both the quality of the regulations and the expectations of the sector.
