Wisconsin State Representative Scott Fitzgerald said that President Trump’s executive order to halt “political debanking” represents a significant victory. He noted that his HUMPS Act addresses similar concerns by curbing “vague oversight practices” employed by regulators to exert pressure on banks.
“President Trump’s EO to stop political debanking is a major win,” said U.S. Rep. Scott Fitzgerald (R-Wi). “My bill, the Halting Uncertain Methods and Practices in Supervision (HUMPS) Act, tackles the same problem by reining in vague oversight practices that regulators use to pressure banks. Fair banking shouldn’t depend on your politics.”
On August 7, 2025, the President issued an executive order aimed at ensuring fair banking practices. The order prohibits restrictions based on political or religious beliefs or lawful business activities. According to the White House, federal regulators are required to eliminate guidance that permits “politicized or unlawful debanking,” review institutions for past actions, and implement corrective measures. Additionally, the Small Business Administration must notify and reinstate affected clients while developing a strategy to prevent future occurrences of debanking.
Fitzgerald’s HUMPS Act, which passed the House Financial Services Committee on May 21, 2025, seeks to enhance transparency in bank evaluations. According to a press release, the bill instructs the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) to revise the CAMELS rating system with clear and objective standards and an updated formula. It also calls for reforming the subjective “Management” component to concentrate on measurable risk governance and internal controls.
“The HUMPS Act brings much-needed transparency and accountability to the bank rating process,” said Fitzgerald in a press release. He added that “the CAMELS rating system has a real impact on how banks operate—but right now, it gives regulators too much room to apply double standards.” Fitzgerald emphasized that the bill ensures supervisory ratings are based on transparent, quantifiable metrics rather than political bias or personal opinion. He described it as a necessary step to prevent debanking by eliminating subjectivity from banking oversight.
Fitzgerald represents Wisconsin’s Fifth Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. His previous service includes roles in the Wisconsin State Senate from 1995 to 2021 as both Majority Leader and Minority Leader. He is an alumnus of Hustisford High School and holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. Fitzgerald also served in the U.S. Army Reserve for 27 years before retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel, according to House.gov.
