In Trump v. American Federation of Government Employees, a case on its emergency docket  that could have implications for the CFPB, the Supreme Court issued a brief opinion allowing the Trump Administration to fire tens of thousands of workers at 19 different federal government agencies while appeals over the firings continue.… Continue Reading

The podcast show we are releasing this week focuses generally on the so-called “Unitary Executive Theory” and specifically on the legality of President Trump firing without cause the Democratic Commissioners of the Federal Trade Commission and the members of other independent agencies, despite language in the governing statutes that prohibit the President from firing a member without cause and a 1935 Supreme Court opinion in Humphrey’s Executor holding that the firing of an FTC Commissioner by the President is unlawful if done without cause.… Continue Reading

We are releasing today on our podcast show a repurposed webinar that we produced on June 11, 2025 entitled “What is happening at the federal agencies that is relevant to the residential mortgage and settlement service industries.”

During this podcast, we will inform you about recent developments at federal agencies, including the CFPB, HUD/FHA, OCC, FDIC, FRB and USDA (collectively, the “Agencies”), as well as Congress, the White House, states and the courts.… Continue Reading

We are releasing today on our podcast show a repurposed webinar which we produced on May 13, 2025 entitled “What is happening at the federal agencies (other than the CFPB) that is relevant to the consumer financial services industry.”

During this podcast, we will inform you about recent developments at those other agencies, including the FTC, OCC, FDIC, FRB and DOJ (collectively, the “Agencies”) and the White House (through the issuance of Executive Orders).… Continue Reading

Republicans on the House Financial Services Committee have sent letters to financial regulators asking them to rescind a variety of measures the regulators issued during the Biden Administration.

“These letters highlight the rules and guidance issued under the previous Administration that reduce competition and innovation and must be rescinded or significantly modified,” the GOP members said in a joint letter to the regulators.… Continue Reading

Chief Justice John Roberts has issued a temporary stay of a decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia that barred the Trump Administration from firing members of two independent agency boards.

The stay follows a 7-4 appeals court decision that Cathy Harris, the chairwoman of the Merit Systems Protection Board, and Gwynne Wilcox, a member of the National Labor Relations Board, should return to their jobs.… Continue Reading

President Trump on Tuesday fired the remaining two Democratic members of the FTC, leaving only two Republicans on the commission.

The commissioners, Alvaro Bedoy and Rebecca Slaughter, announced their dismissals on social media. Both called their dismissals illegal, since the FTC is supposed to be an independent agency. Both of them called their firings illegal and Bedoy already has said he would challenge his dismissal in court.… Continue Reading

Saying that independent agencies “have exercised enormous power over the American people without Presidential oversight,” President Trump has issued an Executive Order placing those agencies under his control.

While Trump specifically mentioned the FTC, FCC and SEC, the definition of “agency” used in the order also includes such financial regulators as the FDIC, OCC, CFPB and NCUA.… Continue Reading

It is all but certain that Rep. French Hill, R-Ark., will chair the House Financial Services Committee in the next Congress. Hill was selected on December 12 by the House Republican steering committee, although his selection still must be approved by House Republicans in the next Congress. That approval is considered to be pro forma.… Continue Reading

Federal banking regulators are asking the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals to lift a Texas court injunction barring implementation of new Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) rules.

In asking the court to lift the injunction, the FDIC, OCC and Federal Reserve Board contend that U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk erred by finding that only the geographic area around a bank’s physical facilities should be taken into account when assessing the financial institution’s record of meeting community needs under the CRA.… Continue Reading