 Your weekly advocacy update: Stay informed, take action, and champion the voice of America’s defense credit unions! This week, DCUC focused on advocacy surrounding the government shutdown, urging Congress to act while highlighting potential impacts on servicemembers, veterans, and federal employees. At the same time, DCUC showcased how our member credit unions are stepping up with tailored relief programs and continued engagement with regulators to ensure supportive, practical policies for the military community. Stay up to speed as we push forward! Follow along with our weekly announcements here. Top Priorities This Past Week DCUC remains hopeful of a resolution to end the current government shutdown. With the fiscal year ending on September 30, we suspected a government shutdown could take effect, and proactively warned our members weeks in advance, sharing our government shutdown resources and providing communication templates to inform their members. DCUC sent a letter in advance urging Congressional action to ensure Coast Guard members are paid (since Coast Guard is funded under DHS), as well as a letter in support of the Pay Our Troops Act of 2026, prior to the shutdown. Since that time, DCUC's advocacy and member representation have been in full swing: We've shared our member credit unions' efforts with key media (Military Times, NewsDay, AFP, and industry media partners), committed to connecting our member credit union CEOs and their dedicated teams to reporters actively tracking the shutdown to share real-time perspectives and insights. Together with our members, we are fully engaged in ensuring military, federal, and veteran members are informed on how credit unions are readily prepared to offer personalized assistance, emergency relief, and relentless support. DCUC also hosted a large Military Advocacy Committee gathering on Thursday, October 2, with credit union CEOs and fellow advocates discussing new insights, best practices, and forward strategies to continue amplifying and leading in the credit union mission. Read our most recent update here, and visit our Government Shutdown Resource Page for timely updates and helpful tools. NCUA Updates DCUC recently commended National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) Chairman Kyle Hauptman for his recent statement that regulation by enforcement is unethical and not permitted at the NCUA. “We at DCUC commend Chairman Hauptman for reinforcing the principle that credit unions should be regulated based on clear rules and consistent standards,” says Anthony Hernandez, DCUC President/CEO. “This approach ensures that credit unions can operate safely and soundly, while protecting the rights of their members and maintaining trust in the system.” Jason Stverak, DCUC Chief Advocacy Officer, echoed these remarks, adding, “We applaud both Chairman Hauptman and the NCUA for its continued focus on clarity, due process, and responsible oversight. These values are integral to the health and stability of the credit union system.” DCUC also supports the NCUA for proposing a prudent right-sizing of its budget and workforce in the 2026–2027 draft. This proposal to reduce staff and expenditures reflects the changing reality of our industry: With fewer credit unions to supervise, it makes sense for the agency’s budget to contract accordingly. By streamlining operations, the NCUA is demonstrating fiscal responsibility while still upholding its core mission to regulate and insure credit unions. Earlier this week, DCUC sent a letter to the NCUA as part of its voluntary review under the Economic Growth and Regulatory Paperwork Reduction Act of 1996 (EGRPRA). While NCUA is not required to participate, DCUC expressed its appreciation for the NCUA’s decision to do so, demonstrating a commitment to burden reduction, transparency, and collaboration. Read more here. Advocacy Discussions Congress Must End The Flood Insurance Roller Coaster – Permanently, featured on CUToday On October 1, 2025 – the day after Congress missed its deadline to reauthorize the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) – federal regulators issued an unusual reminder to banks, credit unions, and other lenders. They confirmed that lenders may continue making mortgage loans on properties in flood zones even while the NFIP is offline. This guidance was meant to calm fears that home sales in flood-prone areas would grind to a halt. Yet it came with strict conditions that underscore how untenable these lapses are... The power of prioritization: Unlocking communications impact for small credit union teams, featured on CUInsight
In today’s climate of rising costs and shifting financial needs, small, community-based financial institutions—especially credit unions—face a unique challenge: how to connect meaningfully with underserved audiences while operating with lean marketing and communications teams. By taking a strategic approach to communications, credit unions can create impactful, organic outreach and unlock shared media opportunities that magnify their voice without straining resources. Comments are closed.
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