On March 16, 2026, the SEC announced that Judge Margaret Ryan has resigned from her role as Director of the Division of Enforcement. The announcement did not provide a reason for Judge Ryan’s resignation. Judge Ryan joined the SEC as Director of the Division of Enforcement in September 2025. In the press release announcing Judge Ryan’s resignation, SEC Chairman Paul Atkins stated that “Judge Ryan has served with honor and distinction since joining the Commission last year…Under her leadership, the division reprioritized enforcing the nation’s securities laws, with a focus on pursuing fraud.”
Principal Deputy Director Sam Waldon has been named Acting Director of the Division of Enforcement, effective March 16, 2026. Acting Director Waldon also served in this capacity from January 2025 until Judge Ryan’s appointment in September 2025. The SEC’s press release stated that the SEC is expected to announce a permanent successor as Enforcement Director of the Division in the coming weeks.
The SEC’s press release is available here.
