Appeals Court Sides With Administration — For Now
In August, a divided D.C. Circuit panel sided with the administration, lifting the injunction in a 2-1 ruling. The majority held that there was “no reviewable decision to shut down the CFPB,” effectively giving Vought breathing room to continue his restructuring.
But Vought’s latest comments may reignite the legal firestorm. NTEU and other plaintiffs have since requested a full court rehearing, and the government’s response is due by October 21.
Spokespersons for both the CFPB and the Office of Management and Budget declined to comment on the remarks.
Critics Say CFPB Shutdown Would Empower Predators
In his White House interview, Vought insisted that his mission was not anti-consumer but rather a “restoration of accountability.”
He argued that the CFPB “had the DNA of Elizabeth Warren,” accusing it of weaponizing financial laws against small businesses and local lenders.
Senator Elizabeth Warren, who helped found the CFPB after the 2008 financial crisis, fired back Wednesday night on social media. She credited the bureau with returning over $21 billion to U.S. consumers wronged by corporations.
“Trump and his administration love grifters and scammers,” Warren wrote. “They’re trying to kill the agency that holds them accountable.”
Consumer advocates echoed her alarm. Ericka Taylor, co-executive director of Americans for Financial Reform, warned that Vought’s plan gives a “green light to predatory lenders and Big Tech.”
“This illegal dismantling of the CFPB exposes real people to real harm,” Taylor said. “By shutting it down, Vought is inviting powerful financial interests to nickel and dime working families.”
