In a charged letter dated October 28th, 2025, Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) along with his Banking Committee Democrat colleagues, pressed Acting CFPB Director Russell Vought on concerning new evidence that suggests he is planning to "close down" the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, this information comes despite a federal court order that has already blocked such an action, the senators cite an inconsistency as the Trump Administration's lawyers have contradicated that very assertion in court.
The contents of the letter, which was obtained by Gallego's official senate website, include accusations that Vought has neglected to request any funding for the CFPB, crucial for its operation and responsibilities to protect consumers and they also pointed to the irony that Trump lawyers have claimed that there are no such closure plans, a point on which the senators' letter sharply observes, "Your brazen admission last week confirms what has been apparent all along: You are working to shut down the CFPB in violation of the law."
Vought's actions or lack thereof appear to fly in the face of President Trump's Day One promise to reduce costs for Americans, instead of fulfilling this promise, senators argue, he seems to be paving the way for financial institutions to exploit consumers they say, "You should be focused on reducing costs for Americans across the country, as President Trump promised he would do on Day One of his Administration. Instead, you are making it easier for big banks and giant corporations to cheat and scam families across the country, declaring open season on American consumers." These sharp words are backed by the senators' belief that consumers could be left vulnerable without the safeguards typically provided by the CFPB.
Pulling no punches, the Banking Committee's Democrats have demanded that Vought clarify his intentions regarding the CFPB by no later than October 31, 2025, the senators' message is clear, underlining the responsibility Vought holds in his capacity and their commitment to oversight, in their letter they argued Vought’s approach to the CFPB funding "threatens to leave the agency unable to fulfill its many statutory obligations on behalf of consumers across the country." Senator Gallego has a history of advocating for consumer protections; he rebuked the Trump Administration's disposal of the consent order against Navy Federal Credit Union and has fought against policies that disadvantage Arizonans with medical debt among other consumer advocacy actions.
