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The Fed Just Hiked Rates. Here's What It Means for Your Canadian Mortgage.

  The U.S. Federal Reserve raised its benchmark rate 25 basis points yesterday — the first hike in three years. The Bank of Canada hasn't moved. That gap is now the biggest story in Canadian personal finance. MoneySavings.ca  |  September 17, 2026  |  Canadian Money Brief Yesterday afternoon, the Federal Open Market Committee voted 12-0 to raise the U.S. federal funds rate by a quarter point, pushing it to a target range of 3.75%–4.00%. It's the Fed's first rate hike since July 2023, and Chair Kevin Warsh made clear it almost certainly won't be the last. The Bank of Canada, by contrast, has held its overnight rate at 2.25% through seven straight meetings. It doesn't decide again until October 28. For Canadians with a mortgage, a renewal coming up, or a home equity line of credit, this matters more than it might look at first glance. 3.75–4.00% New U.S. Fed Rate 2.25% Bank of Canada Rate 1.625% Rate Gap (vs. 1.375% yesterday) ~71.5¢ Loonie (post-hike low) What th...
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Trump Administration Ousts Housing Watchdog Amid Political Tensions

FILE PHOTO: Bill Pulte, director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 27, 2025.

In a move that has drawn significant attention in Washington, President Donald Trump is removing the internal watchdog of the U.S. Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA). The decision comes at a time when the housing regulator has been increasingly involved in politically sensitive investigations and enforcement actions.

The watchdog in question, Joe Allen, the FHFA’s acting inspector general, had been overseeing probes into mortgage fraud and other financial misconduct. His removal follows the rise of FHFA Director Bill Pulte, who has become a vocal supporter of the Trump administration. Pulte has recently launched initiatives such as a hotline for reporting mortgage fraud and has pursued criminal referrals against individuals perceived to be political opponents of the president.

The FHFA, created in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis, traditionally operates as a low-profile regulator overseeing mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. However, under the Trump administration, the agency has taken on a more prominent role in what critics describe as a broader effort to target political adversaries.

This latest ouster is part of a wider pattern across the federal government, where nearly two dozen inspectors general and internal watchdogs have been fired, reassigned, or had their offices defunded. These officials are tasked with monitoring waste, fraud, and abuse within government agencies, and their removal has raised concerns about accountability and oversight.

The FHFA has not yet issued an official comment on Allen’s departure. Lawmakers, however, are expected to press for answers, with some already voicing alarm over the erosion of independent oversight within key federal agencies.

In summary: Trump’s decision to remove the FHFA watchdog underscores the administration’s ongoing reshaping of federal oversight, sparking debate over the balance between political loyalty and institutional independence.

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