Paul Atkins Nears SEC Chairmanship Amid Challenges

Paul Atkins, President Donald Trump’s nominee for Chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), is moving closer to confirmation as a Senate hearing is expected to take place on March 27.

Atkins was nominated by Trump on December 4, but his confirmation process has been delayed due to financial disclosure issues, primarily linked to his wife’s family, who hold stakes in TAMKO Building Products LLC—a company that generated $1.2 billion in revenue in 2023.

It remains unclear whether the White House has submitted the necessary financial documents to the Senate. However, according to Semafor journalist Eleanor Mueller, Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Scott is preparing to hold a hearing to review Atkins’ qualifications.

The committee also plans to hold a bipartisan meeting on March 21 to discuss the nomination. Earlier, on March 3, Mueller reported that financial disclosure concerns had prevented Atkins’ confirmation hearing from being scheduled. A former Senate Banking Committee staffer commented, “There’s a lot to go through. But since he was nominated so early, people are wondering why it’s taking so long.”

Atkins previously served as an SEC commissioner from 2002 to 2008 and worked as a corporate attorney at Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP. If confirmed, he is expected to take a more collaborative approach toward cryptocurrency regulation than his predecessor, Gary Gensler.

Although nearly four months have passed since Trump nominated Atkins—and over two months since Trump took office—it is not unusual for an SEC chairman to take office late. The two most recent SEC chairmen, Gary Gensler and Jay Clayton, also began their terms months after a presidential transition.

Atkins’ potential confirmation could mark a significant shift in U.S. financial and cryptocurrency policy.