The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) hired long-time Federal Housing Administration (FHA) veteran Meg Burns as senior associate director for congressional affairs and communications. The FHFA regulates Fannie Mae (FNM), Freddie Mac (FRE) and the 12 federal home loan banks. These government-sponsored enterprises provide more than $6.3trn in funding for the US mortgage markets. Today Freddie posted a $6.7bn loss in Q110 and requested $10.6bn in aid to cover the deficit. Burns held various positions at the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for 19 years. She currently manages three divisions responsible for the FHA single-family programs. She has served as senior advisor to the FHA commissioner and spokesperson for the agency. The new FHFA appointments are effective May 10th. “We are extremely pleased to have someone with the depth of housing policy and communications experience as Meg Burns joining FHFA at this important time,” said Edward DeMarco, the FHFA acting director. “Since the creation of FHFA, the establishment of the Conservatorships, and the housing and financial market crisis, FHFA has seen a dramatic growth in the volume and complexity of inquiries and requests from outside stakeholders and interested parties. The Senior AD position is a new one for this agency, reflecting this increased workload and associated responsibilities.” FHFA also appointed Peter Bereton from associate director of external relations to a new position, where he will oversee and direct the agency’s day-to-day congressional affairs and responsibilities. He will also manage conservatorship communications. Mary Ellen Taylor, once the senior policy advisor in the FHFA office of policy analysis and research. In her new position, Taylor will also oversee and guide FHFA’s internal and external communications. “Together with our communications and congressional affairs staff, this team will develop and implement a robust, coordinated communications program for FHFA,” said DeMarco said. Write to Jon Prior.