By Charlene Crowell

A Janet Jackson hit record once famously asked, “What have you done for me lately?”

If that question were ever posed to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), the answers would reveal an efficient and responsive government agency that has worked tirelessly since becoming the consumers’ financial cop-on-the-beat: As of January 30, 2025, CFPB enforcement actions have resulted in 195 million consumers sharing  about $20 billion in monetary compensation, principal reductions, cancelled debts and other consumer relief.

Nearly 500,000 consumers sought CFPB assistance through its complaint portal this past January, a notable increase above its average intake of 350,000 complaints per month. In many instances, the financial concerns brought to CFPB’s attention are urgent, resulting in harm to consumers and to companies that play by the rules that call for fairness in the financial system.

Yet despite its laudable service, CFPB has been added to a still-growing list of federal agencies that recently have been shuttered, with employees laid off and consumers confused as to when or if operations will resume. At the same time, a profusion of lawsuits – including one that intends to preserve CFPB’s record of consumer protection – are challenging the actions of the executive-authorized Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

It is noteworthy that a heroic, 83-year-old, retired pastor is the sole consumer plaintiff joining the CFPB Employee Association, Gupta Wessler LLP, NAACP, National Consumer Law Center, the National Treasury Employees Union, Public Citizen Litigation Group, and the Virginia Poverty Law Center in a lawsuit  that seeks to halt what the group calls illegal actions by CFPB’s appointed and acting officials.

Rev. Eva Steege, the elderly plaintiff, hopes the CFPB will help her discharge $15,000 in student loan debt so it doesn’t become a financial burden for her family after being diagnosed with advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and told she had no longer than six months to live.

She is eligible for relief under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, and had a meeting scheduled with the Bureau for early February. But on February 9, the Trump administration moved to severely limit CFPB operations, forcing the cancellation of her crucial follow-up meeting and leaving her without that vital assistance. According to the lawsuit: “Absent the CFPB’s assistance, it is unlikely that she will be able to discharge her debt and get her overpayments returned before she passes away.”

In part, the lawsuit alleges: “Even litigation that was already pending against financial institutions that scammed consumers and exploited ordinary Americans has come to a halt, and the agency is not conducting any new enforcement actions. All supervision of financial institutions has been cancelled. With each day that the agency remains shut down, the financial institutions that seek to prey on consumers are emboldened—harming their law-abiding competitors and the consumers who fall victim to them.”

Rev. Steege is not alone. Since February 12, CFPB’s complaint response system has been working at a diminished capacity — at best — according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit cites service interruptions in two additional areas that raise consumer concerns.

Military servicemembers and their families owed refund payments based on a consent order between a predatory car title lender are unable to receive these funds because payments must first be approved by CFPB employees—who, of course, cannot work. And the CFPB’s mandated Student Loan Ombudsman’s office has been forced to shut its doors.

On February 14, Federal District Judge Amy Berman Jackson issued an order that directed Russell Vought, the agency’s current acting director and the entire agency not to:

1. Delete or remove agency data from any database or information system controlled by, or stored on behalf of, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB);
2. Terminate any CFPB employee, except for cause related to the specific employee’s performance or conduct; nor shall Defendants issue any notice of reduction-in-force to any CFPB employee; nor
3. Alter the agency’s financial assets whether via transfer of funds, relinquished control or ownership of reserve funds, nor grant control or ownership of the CFPB’s reserve funds to any other entity; nor return any agency money to the Federal Reserve or the Department of Treasury; or otherwise take steps to reduce the amount of money available to the CFPB as of February 14.

Additionally Judge Berman Jackson set February deadlines for Vought and consumer advocates to file motions and replies on the consumer lawsuit, ahead of a March 3 hearing.

“We refuse to stand idly by as our most vulnerable communities are left unprotected due to irresponsible leaders[AK1] ,” said NAACP President and CEO, Derrick Johnson on behalf of his organization as one of the lawsuit’s plaintiffs.  “From seniors and retirees, disabled people, victims of disaster, to so many more, our nation stands to face immense financial hardship and adversity as a result of the elimination of the CFPB. If our President refuses to put people over profit, the NAACP will use every tool possible to put Americans first.”

“This is a tragedy for American consumers, and it is lawless. The Bureau was created by Congress to ensure a fair marketplace and protect the financial security of everyday Americans, helping them avoid fraud, predatory lending, and abusive financial practices, “ said Deepak Gupta, founding principal of Gupta Wessler LLP and former senior counsel at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Charlene Crowell is a senior fellow with the Center for Responsible Lending. She can be reached at Charlene.crowell@responsiblelending.org.