Dodd-Frank Act Stress Tests (DFAST) | FEDERAL HOUSING FINANCE AGENCY

Dodd-Frank Act stress testing is a forward-looking exercise that assesses the impact on capital levels that would result from immediate financial shocks and nine quarters of severely adverse economic conditions. FHFA requires Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to submit the results of stress tests based on two scenarios: a Baseline scenario and a Severely Adverse scenario. FHFA aligned the stress test scenario variables and assumptions with those used by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System in its annual Dodd-Frank Act stress tests. As of March 2020, according to the Stress Testing of Regulated Entities Final Rule, the Federal Home Loan Banks are no longer required to conduct Dodd-Frank Act stress tests. As a prudential matter, FHFA expects the FHLBanks to continue to perform other stress tests (addressing market, credit, liquidity, and model risks) as outlined in FHFA's regulations and guidance.

In 2014 FHFA began requiring its regulated entities to conduct stress tests pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (Dodd-Frank Act). As amended by Section 401 of the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act (EGRRCPA), the Dodd-Frank Act requires certain financial companies with total consolidated assets of more than $250 billion, and which are regulated by a primary federal financial regulatory agency, to conduct periodic stress tests to determine whether the companies have sufficient capital to absorb losses and support operations during adverse economic conditions.