What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
ThatPainter is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn More
The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) plans to reduce its Office of Inspector General’s (OIG) fiscal year 2027 allocation from $55 million to $20 million, according to Realtor.com News. FHFA says its proposal would bring the watchdog’s budget and staffing more in line with inspector general offices elsewhere. Acting Inspector General James Hodge and congressional Democrats warn that the lower amount could weaken investigations and independent oversight. The plan was announced on September 30, 2026; the available reporting does not establish that it has been finalized or that staffing has changed.
What is FHFA proposing?
FHFA announced a planned fiscal year 2027 allocation of $20 million for its OIG, down from an initially planned $55 million, Realtor.com News reported on October 2, 2026. That is a proposed budget decision, not evidence that the reduction has been implemented. The report also cited earlier allocations of $55 million in 2023, $57 million in 2024 and $58.5 million in 2025; those figures are reported by Realtor.com, rather than established in the text of FHFA’s announcement.
#1 Best Overall
- COMPLETE 5-PIECE BRUSH SET FOR EVERY PAINTING TASK — Includes 1 Inch Flat, 1.5 Inch Angle, 2 Inch Flat, 2 Inch Angle Stubby, and 2.5 Inch Angle brush giving you every size professional painters use daily. Get all 5 for less than the price of a single brush from hardware store brands — professional grade performance at a fraction of the cost. Perfect for walls, trim, cabinets, doors, furniture, and detailed cutting-in work on any project.
- ZERO BRISTLE LOSS — GUARANTEED BY PRECISION ADHESIVE BONDING — Every bristle is locked in place with precision-set adhesive that keeps them in the brush — not in your paint job. The coated steel ferrule provides structural support while the adhesive bond ensures clean performance on every stroke. Premium SRT synthetic filaments load more paint and release it evenly for a smooth streak-free finish on walls, ceilings, and trim. Works with latex, oil-based paint, primer, sealer, and wood stain.
- INCLUDES THE ANGLE STUBBY MOST SETS LEAVE OUT — Professional painters know the 2 Inch Angle Stubby is the go-to brush for tight cabinet interiors, window sashes, inside corners, and detailed trim where standard angle brushes are too long. Combined with the 1.5 and 2.5 inch angle sash brushes you have precision cutting-in covered at every scale — baseboards, crown molding, door casings, and ceiling lines.
- FLAT BRUSHES FOR BROAD SMOOTH COVERAGE ON ANY SURFACE — The 1 and 2 inch flat brushes deliver even coverage on walls, furniture, shelving, doors, fences, decks, and wood surfaces. Ideal for applying primers, stains, varnishes, polyurethane, and specialty coatings. Solid wood handles provide all-day comfort and control for both professional contractors and weekend DIY homeowners tackling interior or exterior painting projects.
- TRUSTED BY PROFESSIONAL PAINTERS AND CONTRACTORS NATIONWIDE — Pro Grade delivers professional-grade results at a price that makes sense for crews who go through brushes on every job. Ideal for property managers, remodeling contractors, apartment turnover crews, maintenance teams, and commercial painting operations. Backed by thousands of verified reviews from working painters. Washable and reusable for multiple projects.
FHFA’s September 30 statement defended the plan as a “peer-matched” budget. The agency said the OIG had requested funding equal to 16% of FHFA’s operating budget, while the average inspector general allocation is approximately 2%. It also said OIG employees made up 18% of FHFA’s workforce, compared with an approximately 4% average staffing allocation for inspector general offices. Those are FHFA’s comparisons; they have not been independently audited in the sources cited here. A national average alone does not establish whether this particular watchdog has enough resources for its workload.
Why does the watchdog’s funding matter?
FHFA regulates Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the 11 Federal Home Loan Banks. Its OIG says FHFA’s responsibilities include overseeing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac while they are in conservatorship, as well as supervising the Federal Home Loan Banks. The inspector general’s work includes audits, investigations and inspections intended to detect fraud, waste and abuse. See the FHFA-OIG FAQ for the office’s description of its remit.
Rank #2
- Great Value Pack Artist Paint Brushes: Soucolor 20 brushes in 10 sizes professional paintbrushes set — no shedding, holds paint well, cleans easily, Acrylic, watercolor, oil, gouache, Halloween pumpkin decoration & face painting, rock painting, ceramics. Fantastic high quality gifts for creative, artistic siblings to share!
- Awesome Set of Paint brushes: Professional paint brushes can cover all of your needs. The multi-purposed brushes are ideal for Watercolor, Oil, Gouache, enamel, Acrylic Painting, Body, Nail, Face Painting, Miniature, Model, Wood, Glass, Cup, Ceramic, Fine work, Art class, Craft Art Painting, DIY Art Crafts etc.
- Soft and long-lasting: The bristles are soft and strong, with nickel metal ferrules and blue wooden handles. After cleaning, the bristles will become soft and fluffy again and will not fall off.
- Easy to clean: it’s very convenient to Wash well in soap and water. Retain shape after drying. the brushes hold up very well. Nice selection to beginners and professionals. Keep them clean and they last a long time.
- Halloween Pumpkin Ceramic Crafts Supplies: A Great painting gift for family, friends, kids, girls, women, student, classmate, teacher. For using in school, travel or used in the home and office.
Realtor.com reported that the OIG’s criminal enforcement program had secured more than 1,270 convictions and nearly $75 billion in restitution since 2011, citing figures from the office. Those totals indicate the historical scale of its reported enforcement work; they do not, by themselves, show how much funding is needed going forward.
What does the acting inspector general warn could happen?
Acting Inspector General James Hodge warned the Senate Banking Committee that a $20 million budget could lead to cuts of as much as 70% to 80% of OIG staff. He also said the funding level would impair the office’s ability to pursue criminal investigations involving mortgage, bank and other fraud at entities FHFA regulates. These are Hodge’s forecasts, not confirmed staffing losses or documented changes to current investigations.
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchPC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Rank #3
- 【All sizes of art brushes】: The 10 sizes of multi-functional brushes have various shapes, making the mixing color easier, which is very suitable for artists, students, teenagers, children and painters at all levels. Wonderful Present ideas for friends and family who like painting!
- 【general brush set】: Professional paint brush can meet all your needs. Multifunctional brush is very suitable for watercolor, oil, gouache, acrylic painting, body, nail, face painting, miniature, model, ceramics, arts and crafts painting, etc.
- 【high quality process】: It is designed with anti falling bristles, anti-rust nickel ferrule and solid wood handle. You can use the brush to focus on the painting and always be creative.
- 【easy to maintain】: After using the brush, it is very convenient to clean the brush with warm soapy water and reshape the tip of the brush. Air dry the brush and place it on top of the top for long use.
- 【100% satisfaction guarantee - buy now】1 packs of set brushes, you can also get friendly customer service, any questions feel free to contact us, within 24 hours to help you! There is no risk in buying our paint brush kit.
Hodge told the committee: “Simply stated, funding at the $20 million level will eliminate our capacity to effectively conduct criminal investigation of mortgage, bank, and other fraud schemes involving the entities FHFA regulates.” His warning frames the central practical question: whether a budget aligned with peer averages would still support the investigations and oversight expected of this office.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What have Democrats and FHFA Director Bill Pulte said?
Eleven Democratic senators on the Senate Banking Committee, led by ranking member Elizabeth Warren, criticized the planned reduction and demanded that FHFA Director Bill Pulte answer to Congress. Their letter, as quoted by Realtor.com, said: “You must publicly answer to Congress about your attempt to gut your agency’s independent watchdog.” Warren, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and House Financial Services Committee ranking member Maxine Waters also called for Pulte to resign. The lawmakers linked their concerns about the budget to their criticism of investigations into Pulte’s conduct; those are allegations and political arguments, not established findings.
Rank #4
- Bates paint brushes come in a convenient 6 pieces with 3 flat and 3 angled bristle styles, including (1”, 1.5”, 2”) flat and (1.5”, 2”, 2.5”) angled bristles, perfect for tackling any surface painting or staining job.
- The sturdy natural bristles of each brush are designed to hold more paint, creating a smoother finish with fewer streaks and saving you time on the job.
- The lightweight wooden handles provide extra comfort and ease during long painting processes like walls, trims, cabinets, and doors.
- These versatile brushes are ready-to-use, easy to clean, and can be reused multiple times, making them economical as well as reliable tools for any painting project.
- Bates paint brushes can be used for both oil-based paints as well as latex stains and are ideal for home or commercial projects such as decks, fences or DIY painting jobs.
Pulte described the plan on X as “good financial stewardship” that would align the office with peer inspector general offices. FHFA’s official statement likewise emphasized fiscal prudence and its statutory obligations, saying: “As stewards of federally authorized resources, FHFA must ensure that all expenditures reflect fiscal prudence while fully meeting its statutory obligations.” The competing arguments are therefore about both proportionality—how the watchdog compares with peer offices—and capacity—whether its remaining resources can sustain the work its remit requires.
What is known about implementation?
The announcement and news report establish a planned FY2027 allocation, not its final implementation. The sources cited here do not confirm whether the $20 million figure was later changed or formally put into effect, or whether the OIG experienced staffing reductions or altered its casework as a result. Until those outcomes are documented, the budget reduction and possible operational effects should be described as proposed and forecast, respectively.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 2 Inch Angled Paint Brush for Precision Cutting-In – Designed for clean, sharp lines around trim, baseboards, ceilings, corners, and detailed edge work. The perfect size for control and coverage.
- Value 3-Pack for Pros & DIY Projects – Includes three professional 2-inch angled sash brushes — ideal for contractors, remodelers, and homeowners tackling multiple rooms or repeat paint jobs.
- Smooth Results on Walls, Trim & Cabinets – Great for interior wall painting, cabinet edges, furniture projects, and trim work where a smooth finish and crisp control matter most.
- Works with Latex Paint, Oil-Based Paint & Stains – Premium synthetic filaments hold more paint, reduce streaks, and provide a clean finish with latex paints, oil coatings, and wood stains.
- Works with Latex Paint, Oil-Based Paint & Stains – Premium synthetic filaments hold more paint, reduce streaks, and provide a clean finish with latex paints, oil coatings, and wood stains.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
