New Acting Chairwoman Caroline Pham of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has implemented a sweeping overhaul of the agency’s leadership team following President Donald Trump’s return to the White House.

The leadership changes, announced on January 22, introduce interim appointments across key divisions, signaling a new direction for the regulator amid its expanding role in cryptocurrency oversight.

Pham Reshapes CFTC Leadership amid Transition to Trump Administration

In her statement, Pham expressed gratitude to the outgoing team, led by former Chair Rostin Behnam, and highlighted the contributions of the previous leadership, who collectively dedicated decades of service to the agency.

Pham praised the talent within the CFTC, stating, “I am grateful for their combined many decades of faithful service to the CFTC, and I appreciate our talented CFTC staff who will be assuming these roles on an interim basis.”

The news that Pham would take over as chair of the CFTC surfaced on Monday, the day of Trump's inauguration as president. She was appointed commissioner in 2022 and previously led the agency's Global Markets Advisory Committee.

Pham gained attention earlier for her vocal criticism of the CFTC's operations, accusing the agency of relying on “decades-old regulations” whose interpretations “lack rational basis.”

CFTC Key Interim Appointments

Among the notable changes, Harry Jung was appointed Acting Chief of Staff. Jung will lead the agency’s engagement with cryptocurrencies, decentralized finance (DeFi), and digital assets. Having joined the CFTC in 2023 as a senior policy advisor to Pham, Jung brings experience from previous roles at Citigroup and Morgan Stanley, where he focused on regulatory strategy and digital assets.

Meghan Tente transitions from Chief of Staff to Acting General Counsel, overseeing the agency’s legal matters. Tente has served in multiple leadership roles within the CFTC since 2012, including Acting Director of the Division of Market Oversight. Her expertise spans registration, compliance, and international regulatory standards.