The future of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB or Bureau) has rarely been more uncertain. Since its creation, the CFPB has been at the center of intense political and policy debate, with its priorities changing dramatically as administrations change. The events of the past year or so under the leadership of Acting Directors chosen by President Trump, however, have taken that policy whiplash to a new level.… Continue Reading
CFPB General
Today’s Podcast Episode: CFPB’s Immigration Status Guidance Creates a Compliance Catch-22 for Creditors
CFPB guidance on ability to repay, immigration status, and fair lending creates a difficult compliance dilemma for creditors.
The CFPB’s June 5, 2026 statement on “Ability to Repay and Immigration Status” presents creditors with a difficult, and potentially unprecedented, compliance dilemma. The Bureau says that when creditors are required to assess a consumer’s ability to repay, they may, and in some circumstances may be required to, consider information about the consumer’s immigration status if that information bears on the consumer’s current or reasonably expected future income.… Continue Reading
Vought tells Congress CFPB needs major changes, even abolishment
During recent Congressional Hearings Acting CFPB Director Russell Vought, testifying for the first time in that capacity, stated that the Trump Administration has succeeded in improving the structure and operation of the CFPB, but more work needs to be done.
In fact, in testimony before the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs he said he would prefer that the agency be abolished.… Continue Reading
CFPB Policy Update: Key Takeaways from A Discussion with Senior Advisor and Counsel to the Director, Elie Greenbaum
On June 25, 2026, DC-based Women in Housing & Finance hosted Senior Advisor and Counsel to the Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Elie Greenbaum, for a wide-ranging discussion on the Bureau’s current policy priorities and regulatory outlook. Following are notable updates on the CFPB’s agenda for industry participants. This report is based on the input of several members of our Consumer Financial Services Group who attended the meeting. … Continue Reading
CFPB Announces Major Overhaul of Consumer Complaint System: A Shift Toward Integrity, Standardization, and Statutory Compliance
Apparently building off the comments it received about complaint intake as well as its prior revisions to the complaint portal, on June 24, 2026, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued a press release announcing a series of significant reforms to its consumer complaint system, particularly with respect to credit reporting complaints.… Continue Reading
Senate Democrats Demand Answers from Acting Director Vought Regarding CFPB Website Purge
Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ranking Member of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, joined by Senators Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Andy Kim (D-NJ), and Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), recently sent a detailed letter to CFPB Acting Director Russell Vought seeking explanations for the agency’s removal of thousands of webpages and other materials from the CFPB’s website.… Continue Reading
Fed transfers funds to CFPB for agency operations
The Federal Reserve has transferred funds to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York to pay the expenses of the CFPB for the third quarter of this fiscal year, according to a letter posted on the agency’s website.
The letter from Federal Reserve Chief Financial Officer Rendell Jones to CFPB Chief Financial Officer Janfar Gueye does not disclose the amount of the deposit, but the bureau requested $75.8 million.… Continue Reading
Former New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin Launches Law Firm to Continue Fighting for the Public Good
We were honored to host former New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin on our live webinar on January 17, 2025 where I conducted a “fireside chat” with him that, because of its popularity, was later repurposed on our weekly podcast show, Consumer Finance Monitor. At that time, Matt spoke passionately about the evolving landscape of consumer protection and how his office was preparing to fill the anticipated gap left by efforts to scale back the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).… Continue Reading
CFPB Releases Gold Science Standard Report
The CFPB recently released a Report on Actions Taken to Implement Gold Standard Science that addresses steps the CFPB has taken and plans to take to implement the May 2025 Executive Order entitled “Restoring Gold Standard Science” (GSS) and subsequent guidance issued to federal agencies.
In the introductory portions of the Report, the CFPB advises as follows:
“Until the CFPB adopts formal policies and procedures governing the production and use of scientific information, CFPB staff are developing policies and procedures to help ensure that the scientific information produced and used by the CFPB, to the extent practicable, meets all GSS requirements.… Continue Reading
Budget bill includes huge cuts to CFPB budget
The budget bill signed by President Trump on July 4 will make massive cuts to the CFPB’s budget.
The huge bill changes the amount that the CFPB may receive from the Federal Reserve from a maximum of 12% of the Fed’s inflation-adjusted total operating expenses in 2009 to a maximum of 6.5%.… Continue Reading