Senate Banking Committee Democrats looked to Paul Atkins’ past to question whether he’s the right person to take over the Securities and Exchange Commission, while Republicans looked forward at a hearing Thursday to a new leader who will change how the agency conducts rulemaking and oversight.
Atkins, a former SEC commissioner and a longtime financial industry consultant, was tapped by President Donald Trump to be the next SEC chair. He appeared before lawmakers along with Jonathan Gould, nominee for Comptroller of the Currency; Luke Pettit, nominee for assistant Treasury secretary for financial institutions; and Marc Molinaro, a former House member nominated to lead the Federal Transit Administration.
Atkins’ previous SEC work generated Democratic doubts.
