Sandra L. Thompson

Sandra Thompson
Official portrait, 2021
Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency
In office
June 22, 2022 – January 20, 2025
PresidentJoe Biden
Preceded byMark A. Calabria
Succeeded byBill Pulte
Personal details
Born
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Children2
EducationHoward University (BBA)

Sandra L. Thompson is an American government official who served as the director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) from 2022 to 2025. Previously serving as acting director since June 23, 2021, Thompson was nominated by President Biden on December 17, 2021 and sworn in on June 22, 2022. She was the first Black woman to lead the agency. During her tenure, she oversaw the FHFA's approach to the post-COVID-19 pandemic mortgage market.

Early life and education

Thompson was born and raised on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois to parents who moved from Mississippi. She attended Chicago Public Schools. She is a graduate of Howard University in Washington, D.C.

Career

Before joining the FHFA, Thompson had served for more than 23 years in various roles at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, most recently as Director of the Division of Risk Management Supervision.

Prior to her role as director of the FHFA, Thompson served as Deputy Director of the Division of Housing Mission and Goals since March 2013. In 2019, she became a board member of WSSC Water in Prince George's County, Maryland.

FHFA Director (2022-2025)

Following the Supreme Court's decision in Collins v. Yellen (2021), which found that the current structure of the FHFA was unconstitutional as Congress had exceeded its authority by restricting the president's ability to dismiss the agency's head, the Biden administration announced plans to replace the current director, Mark A. Calabria, appointed under the previous president Donald Trump. On December 12, 2021, President Biden announced his intent to promote Thompson from her acting role as director, and on December 17 she was officially nominated. On May 25, 2022, Thompson was confirmed by the Senate in a 49-46 vote, largely along party lines.

During Thompson's tenure as Director, an overwhelming majority (91%) of FHFA employees voted to unionize, forming Chapter 343 of the National Treasury Employees Union in August 2023. Thompson resigned in January 2025.

Personal life

As of 2019, she had been a resident of Prince George's County, Maryland for 23 years. She has two adult sons.

References

  1. ↑ "Sandra L. Thompson Bio - FHFA Director" (PDF). Federal Housing Finance Agency. Retrieved May 15, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Sandra L. Thompson confirmed as FHFA director". NAREB. The National Association of Real Estate Brokers. Retrieved May 15, 2023.
  3. ↑ Andres, Czarinna (2026-05-14). "5 Lessons From Sandra Thompson On Leadership, Mentorship, And Resilience". National Mortgage Professional. Retrieved 2026-06-02.
  4. 1 2 "WSSC Water Welcomes Sandra L. Thompson as Newest Commissioner Representing Prince George's County | WSSC Water". www.wsscwater.com. Retrieved 2026-06-02.
  5. ↑ Mattingly, Phil; de Vogue, Ariane; Stracqualursi, Veronica (June 23, 2021). "White House to replace Federal Housing Finance Agency director following Supreme Court decision". CNN Politics. CNN. Retrieved May 15, 2023.
  6. ↑ "President Biden Announces Nominee for Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency" (Press release). Washington, D.C.: The White House. 2021-12-14. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
  7. ↑ "Thompson Confirmed as FHFA Director". Affordable Housing Finance. May 26, 2022. Retrieved May 15, 2023.
  8. ↑ "Roll Call Vote 117th Congress - 2nd Session". United States Senate. May 25, 2022. Retrieved May 15, 2023.
  9. ↑ O'Donnell, Katy (2025-01-08). "FHFA's Thompson to resign ahead of inauguration". POLITICO. Archived from the original on 2025-07-23. Retrieved 2026-06-02.