Trump’s CFTC nominee’s delay raises concerns on Capitol Hill

Washington, D.C. – The nomination of Brian Quintenz as chair of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has hit a significant roadblock, with the White House requesting a delay in a scheduled Senate vote on Monday, sparking widespread speculation and concern on Capitol Hill.

The delay, reported in detail by journalist Eleanor Terrett on July 29, 2025, has intensified scrutiny over Quintenz’s potential conflicts of interest, specifically his ties to Kalshi, a prediction market platform regulated by the CFTC.

Congressional sources have confirmed to Terrett that Quintenz’s association with Kalshi has been discussed on Capitol Hill as a concern.

The controversy stems from a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request detailed in a post by The Closing Line, authored by Dustin Gouker. The post, which has been circulating among Hill staff and in banking lobbying circles, reveals emails showing Quintenz’s slated chief of staff requesting access to confidential CFTC matters during transition planning for his anticipated chairmanship.

Notably, Quintenz serves on Kalshi’s board, though he has pledged to step down if confirmed. The emails that The Closing Line reported were sent last month, and also indicate briefings on sensitive topics that could intersect with Kalshi competitors like Polymarket and PredictIt.

This is not the first hurdle for Quintenz, who was nominated by President Donald Trump in February and previously served as a CFTC commissioner from 2017 to 2021. The latest delay marks the second time the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry has postponed a vote, with the White House offering no official explanation on the record. Quintenz previously served under the Obama and Biden administrations, something that gives pause to several financial executives we spoke with.

The timing—days before the August recess—suggests that Quintenz’s nomination may be in jeopardy.  A House Republican source said the inability to secure a vote before Congress bodes poorly for Quintenz’s chance to get confirmed. There is already a massive backlog of nominees who have been through committee and are waiting on floor time.

A different source on the Hill said that figures with less controversial private sector ties are under consideration, though no official alternative candidates have been named. The American Gaming Association’s lobbying against Quintenz, citing concerns over prediction markets’ impact on state-tribal gaming compacts, has been aimed at both Democrats and Republicans.