Calling President Donald J. Trump’s appointment of an acting director at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau illegal, two senators — including the architect of the agency — joined in protests outside the bureau.
Trump on Friday appointed his director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, Mick Mulvaney, to serve as acting director of the CFPB until a permanent replacement is found.
But on the same day, Richard Cordray, who resigned on Friday, promoted Leandra English from her role as chief of staff to deputy director — setting up a temporary power struggle.
English filed a federal lawsuit on Sunday challenging Mulvaney’s authority and seeking a temporary restraining order. A decision is pending in that case.
On Tuesday, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts) and Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon) participated in a lunchtime protest outside the CFPB demanding that Mulvaney step aside and let English run the regulator.
Warren, who was the architect of the agency during the Obama administration, noted in an announcement that while Trump and the GOP want to make the issue about politics, the issue is about what is fair. She highlighted the CFPB’s accomplishments and added, “Fair is fair, and that’s what this agency fights for.”
Also participating in the rally were MoveOn.org, the Progressive Campaign Change Committee, Americans for Financial Reform and Public Citizen.
“The American people need a CFPB director who will uphold the law and protect working families against wrongdoings by Wall Street and giant corporations,”the statement said. “President Trump is breaking the law by trying to install Mick Mulvaney as the director of the agency, without Congressional approval.”
