Trump Administration's Efforts to Downsize CFPB Face Legal and Operational Challenges

Court orders and internal confusion stall plans to drastically reduce the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's workforce and activities.

The Trump administration, with support from Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, has sought to significantly reduce the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's size and scope, including plans to cut its workforce to just five employees.
A federal judge has temporarily blocked further layoffs and major operational changes, citing concerns that the CFPB could be rendered nonfunctional before a final ruling is made.
Internal emails reveal widespread confusion among CFPB employees regarding contradictory directives, with some staff unsure about which legally mandated tasks they are allowed to perform.
Consumer advocates warn that a diminished CFPB could leave individuals more vulnerable to financial abuses, such as predatory lending practices and unauthorized fees, by reducing oversight of the financial services industry.
Agency operations have already been disrupted, including canceled contracts, data losses, and halts to ongoing lawsuits and consumer restitution payments.