'Wall Street wins while Americans lose': Maxine Waters blasts SEC Chair in heated capitol showdown

A heated clash unfolded on Capitol Hill as Maxine Waters took aim at SEC Chair Paul Atkins, accusing the agency of prioritizing Wall Street over everyday Americans.During the House Financial Services Committee hearing, Waters argued that the SEC under current leadership is failing to protect investors, instead enabling policies that benefit billionaires and powerful financial institutions.Framing the debate as Wall Street vs Main Street, Waters pressed Atkins on enforcement, accountability, and whether the agency is doing enough to combat fraud and safeguard retail investors.