SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce to Leave October 2

Hester Peirce, a commissioner of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, says she will leave the agency effective October 2, 2026, ending a tenure that began in January 2018. She posted her resignation letter on X. Regent University School of Law has announced that Peirce will join its faculty as an associate professor in November 2026. Peirce’s departure is expected to leave the SEC with two active commissioners, Chairman Paul Atkins and Commissioner Mark Uyeda, according to reporting. The commission has five seats, and the timing of any nominations or confirmations to fill vacancies is unclear. One account says two members can constitute a quorum when the commission is short-staffed. Peirce’s scheduled commissioner term expired in June 2025, but commissioners may continue serving for up to about 18 months if a successor has not been appointed. Her resignation letter sets October 2 as the end of her service. She has also led the SEC’s Crypto Task Force since February 2025; the sources do not identify who will take over that role after she leaves.