CFPB allowing some offices to resume functions

Source: The Hill

03/06/25 2:33 PM ET


The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is allowing some offices to resume their functions, as the Trump administration faces a legal challenge over its stop work order and other efforts to overhaul the consumer watchdog. Mark Paoletta, the CFPB’s chief legal officer, emailed employees Sunday clarifying they still should be performing statutorily required work. Several offices at the agency since have received authorization to resume their work, according to a trove of emails filed in court Tuesday.

“These measures were intended to ensure that new leadership could establish operational control over the agency while ensuring that it would continue to fulfill its statutory duties,” Paoletta wrote. “Many of you understood this and continued to perform functions required by law and sought approval from me to perform work, which I have promptly granted.”

“It has come to my attention, however, that some employees have not been performing statutorily required work,” he continued. “Let me be clear: Employees should be performing work that is required by law and do not need to seek prior approval to do so.”

After acting CFPB Director Russell Vought was appointed in early February, he initially directed employees to cease “all supervision and examination activity” and “shareholder engagement.” However, he quickly expanded his order days later, telling agency staff to “stand down from performing any work task” unless they received approval from Paoletta. Employees were also told not to come into CFPB headquarters, and the building’s lease was later cancelled.

Read more: https://thehill.com/business/5180578-cfpb-offices-resume-functions/