Christy Goldsmith Romero was sworn in as a CFTC Commissioner on March 30, 2022, after being nominated by President Joseph Biden in September 2021, and unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate. Commissioner Goldsmith Romero has more than 20 years of experience as a career federal attorney and leader in financial regulation, serving under four Presidents at the CFTC, Department of Treasury, and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
She promotes market resiliency, integrity, vibrancy, and financial stability, while overseeing CFTC-registered banks, brokers, exchanges, clearinghouses, funds, and commodity producers. As the sponsor of the CFTC’s Technology Advisory Committee, Commissioner Goldsmith Romero has focused on the future of finance. Under her sponsorship, the Committee examines emerging technology (AI, fintech, digital assets, and blockchain), responsible innovation, and cybersecurity. She established new membership in the Committee, including experts in digital assets, AI, fintech blockchain, and cybersecurity. The Committee released first-of-its kind reports on Decentralized Finance (released January 2024) and Responsible Artificial Intelligence in Financial Markets (released May 2024).
Commissioner Goldsmith Romero has also focused on cyber resilience in markets, a topic that the Technology Advisory Committee examines. After substantial engagement with banks, brokers and commodity producers, she led the drafting of the CFTC’s first operational resilience proposed rule for swap dealers and futures commission merchants, which garnered a unanimous Commission vote.
Prior to becoming a CFTC Commissioner, Commissioner Goldsmith Romero served for 12 years at the Department of Treasury, including for a decade as the Special Inspector General for TARP (SIGTARP), after President Obama’s nomination and the U.S. Senate’s unanimous confirmation in 2012. There, she led a nationwide, independent law enforcement and audit watchdog office that conducted oversight over the Troubled Asset Relief Program that covered banks, derivatives, housing, the automotive industry and insurance. In that role, she worked to strengthen the financial system. Under her leadership, SIGTARP developed a unique ability to uncover hidden fraud in banks. SIGTARP’s investigations resulted in the recovery of more than $11 billion, civil charges against large financial institutions, and criminal charges against 465 individuals working with the Department of Justice (with courts sentencing to prison 75 bankers and nearly 100 bank borrowers). She also served on a Council of Inspectors General overseeing the Financial Stability Oversight Council.
From 2019 to 2021, she was an adjunct professor of law at Georgetown University Law Center and the University of Virginia Law School, teaching courses in securities regulation, cryptocurrency regulation, and federal oversight. She also served for six years (2003—2009) at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including as counsel to two SEC Chairs, Christopher Cox (R) and Mary Schapiro (I), during the financial crisis, after serving in the Enforcement Division. She earned her law degree from Brigham Young University Law School in Utah and her undergraduate degree from Old Dominion University in her native state of Virginia. Commissioner Goldsmith Romero’s work and publications have received substantial media coverage by ABC, NBC, USA Today, The Associated Press, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Financial Times, Reuters, Forbes, Bloomberg, The Washington Post, The Washington Examiner, Politico, CNBC, Fox News, CNN, MSNBC, American Banker, NPR, The Guardian, The International Business Times, The Los Angeles Times, and many other local and trade news outlets.
