Some critics argue that forcing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to intervene in the mortgage-backed securities market may indicate their recapitalization and release from conservatorship is now on hold.

The administration’s firing of FHFA’s acting inspector general comes on the heels of the departure of several GSE executives and news that most of the ethics and internal investigations team at Fannie have been laid off.

Allowing the GSEs, under certain conditions, to purchase up to $300 billion in agency MBS each could reduce mortgage rates by as much as 30 basis points, lender groups say.