The Senate has confirmed Carol Galante as head of the Federal Housing Administration (FHA).  The confirmation will remove the term "acting" from her title of Assistant Secretary for Housing and Commissioner of the FHA, a title she has held since the departure of David H. Stevens in May 2011. 

Galante joined the Department of Housing and Urban Development in March 2009 as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Multifamily Housing programs, coming to HUD from BRIDGE Housing Corporation, the largest non-profit developer of mixed-income and mixed-use developments in California where she was president and CEO.  She holds a Master of City Planning degree from U.C. Berkley and a Bachelor of Arts from Ohio Wesleyan.

In a statement released by HUD, its Secretary Shaun Donovan expressed "deep gratitude to members of the Senate who appreciate the combination of fiscal prudence and public purpose that Carol brings to this important post at this most critical time.

"Under Carol's stewardship as Acting Assistant Secretary and Federal Housing Commissioner, HUD launched and integrated the Office of Risk Management and Regulatory Affairs into the Office of Housing.   In addition, she has worked to expand housing opportunities for elderly and disabled residents and launched HUD's new Office of Housing Counseling.  Further, Carol directed FHA insurance programs, through which HUD provided critical liquidity in the market while balancing two core missions - preserving affordable mortgage financing options for underserved borrowers and protecting our still-fragile housing recovery."