Today’s podcast show features a discussion with David Dayen, executive editor of the American Prospect, which is an online magazine about ideas, politics, and power. He’s the author of “Chain of Title: How Three Ordinary Americans Uncovered Wall Street’s Great Foreclosure Fraud,” which was published in 2016. David has written and published about 10 or so articles in which he chronicles in great detail the apparent effort by the Trump Administration, acting through Scott Bessent and Russell Vought, to dismantle the CFPB by abruptly ordering a cessation of all activities and layoffs of probationary and term employees and a plan to layoff 1,300 or so additional employees.… Continue Reading
A deep dive into Judge Jackson’s preliminary injunction order against CFPB Acting Director Vought
On Friday, March 28, Judge Amy Berman Jackson issued a 112-page opinion and 3-page order in National Treasury Employees Union, et al. v. Russell Vought, in his official capacity as Acting Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, et al, Civil Action No. 25-0381 (D.D.C.). Judge Jackson granted a motion for Preliminary Injunction which, in broad terms, enjoined the defendants from continuing to dismantle the CFPB without Congressional authorization to do so.… Continue Reading
Judge enjoins Trump Administration from Dismantling CFPB
Contending that the Trump Administration still intends to dismantle the CFPB, a federal judge on Friday issued a temporary injunction prohibiting the administration from firing employees without cause, prohibiting it from enforcing the stop work order or forcing employees to take administrative leave, and requiring it to provide employees with the means to perform their statutorily mandated functions.… Continue Reading
House Subcommittee Chairman pushes legislation to convert CFPB into a commission, make it subject to appropriations
House Financial Institutions Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Andy Barr, R-Ky., said last week that his subcommittee will place a high priority on changing the CFPB’s structure and funding.
“Today, we’ll propose transitioning the CFPB to a bipartisan commission and bringing it under congressional appropriations,” Barr said, as he opened a subcommittee hearing on oversight of the agency.… Continue Reading
House Subcommittee to hold Wednesday hearing on role of CFPB
The House Financial Services Committee’s Financial Institutions Subcommittee will hold a hearing on Wednesday, March 26, to discuss possible changes to the structure and responsibilities of the CFPB.
“The Subcommittee will review the structure and funding of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), in addition to statutory authorities granted to the CFPB under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010,’ the subcommittee said, in a memo in advance of the hearing.… Continue Reading
Federal Judge says consideration of funds transfer is not evidence of CFPB’s demise
Saying that the CFPB’s consideration of returning funds to the Federal Reserve is not a sign that the Trump Administration intends to abolish the bureau, a federal judge has refused to issue a preliminary injunction stopping those transfers.
“For the Court to intervene and entangle itself in the Bureau’s administrative processes before the agency has made any final decision about the disposition of its operating and reserve funds — and without clear indication that an unlawful and injurious decision will be made imminently — would exceed the bounds of the Court’s proper role and jurisdiction,” Judge Matthew Maddox, of the District of Maryland, wrote.… Continue Reading
As Trump Administration rolls back CFPB’s work, New York wants to fill the void
As the Trump Administration attempts to drastically cut CFPB funding and staffing, New York regulators and legislators are attempting to fill what could be a void in consumer protection efforts.
“We’re hiring,” Adrienne A. Harris, the state’s Superintendent of the Department of Financial Services, said during a presentation on March 12 at the Brookings Institution.… Continue Reading
Today’s Podcast: Prof. Hal Scott Doubles Down on His Argument That CFPB is Unlawfully Funded Because of Combined Losses at Federal Reserve Banks
On June 6 of last year, Prof. Hal Scott of Harvard Law School was our podcast guest. On that occasion he delved into the thought-provoking question of whether the Supreme Court’s decision on May 16 in the landmark case of CFSA v. CFPB really hands the CFPB a winning outcome, or does the Court’s validation of the agency’s statutory funding structure simply open up another question – namely, whether the CFPB is legally permitted under Dodd-Frank to receive funds from the Federal Reserve even though the Federal Reserve Banks have lost money on a combined basis since September 2022.… Continue Reading
Banking Committee sends nomination of Jonathan McKernan as CFPB Director to full Senate
The Senate Banking Committee on March 6 approved the nomination of Jonathan McKernan to be Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
The committee voted 13-11; the nomination now goes to the full Senate. McKernan, a former FDIC Board Member, would replace Acting Director Russell Vought.
Support for McKernan has divided along party lines, with Democrats saying that he would help dismantle an agency that the Trump Administration has said no longer should exist.… Continue Reading
CFPB Nominee McKernan: Bureau will continue its work
Earlier today Jonathan McKernan, President Trump’s nominee to head the CFPB, pledged that the agency would “implement and enforce the federal consumer financial laws and perform each of its other statutorily assigned functions.”
The comment, made during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Banking Committee, came in stark contrast to the Trump Administration’s previous statements that it intends to take the actions necessary to dismantle the CFPB.… Continue Reading