CDFIs

Six trade groups warned the administration layoffs and funding freezes could dampen lending, threatening the administration's goal of economic growth.

Treasury laid off all of its Community Development Financial Institution Fund staff on Friday, with the reduction in force notices saying that the department plans on abolishing the fund.

Community Development Financial Institutions grew rapidly in recent years. Now, though, they face a slowdown. All CDFIs will have to get leaner and more efficient. For many, mergers might be the best solution.

The Office of Management and Budget issued reduction in force notices to Treasury staff working in the Community Development Financial Institution office Friday, saying that the layoffs are necessary to "implement the abolishment" of the fund.

The Office of Management and Budget has prevented billions of dollars from flowing to community development financial institutions, preventing those funds from supporting housing development.

The CDFI Fund is updating definitions of eligible activity to be considered for the funds, including removing climate-focused financing and references to race and ethnicity.

Community development financial institutions have a long history of providing vital economic lifelines to communities across the country. Credit unions have always been an important part of that story.

The leader of a major credit union trade group takes issue with a recent BankThink article questioning credit unions' ability to operate as federally recognized Community Development Financial Institutions.

Four years after its launch, the Mission Driven Bank Fund has ended its fundraising well short of its original $500 million target. Still, organizers are hopeful that the fund's performance will attract other investors to the sector.

Congress should hold hearings to investigate whether credit unions really qualify to operate as tax-advantaged Community Development Financial Institutions.