Caroline Pham

Caroline D. Pham
Born	Modesto, California, U.S.
Occupation	Lawyer
Years active	2005–present
Known for	Commissioner of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission

Caroline D. Pham is a U.S. lawyer currently serving as a commissioner on the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). On January 20, 2025, she was appointed acting chair of the CFTC by President Donald Trump.

Early life and education

Pham was born in Modesto, California. Her parents, originally from Vietnam, were evacuated from the U.S. Embassy in Saigon in 1975. She obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Los Angeles in 2005 and later earned her Juris Doctor from George Washington University Law School.

Career

Between 2005 and 2008, Pham was employed at Sullivan & Cromwell. She completed legal internships with the CFTC, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and also clerked at the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. From 2013 to 2014, she acted as special counsel and policy advisor to CFTC Commissioner Scott D. O'Malia. Since 2014, she has occupied multiple positions at Citigroup.

In December 2021, President Joe Biden put forward her nomination to serve as a commissioner on the CFTC. The United States Senate confirmed her appointment in March 2022, and she officially took office on April 14.

In February 2025, Pham dismissed the head of human resources at the CFTC who was conducting an investigation into claims of a hostile work environment during her tenure, along with other staff members.