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With over two decades of consumer financial services experience in federal government, in-house, and private practice settings, and a specialty in fair lending regulatory compliance, Lori counsels clients in supervisory issues, examinations, investigations, and enforcement actions.

Today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB or Bureau) announced the withdrawal of 67 regulatory guidance documents, including interpretive rules, policy statements, and advisory opinions that have been issued since the Bureau’s inception in 2011. The withdrawn guidance documents impact most federal consumer protection laws, including the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010 (CFPA), Fair

Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced President Trump’s intent to nominate Jonathan McKernan as the Undersecretary of Domestic Finance. The press release states that McKernan’s continued service at Treasury “will ensure that his experience and expertise are best put to advancing the President’s America First agenda.”

On May 1, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit dismissed the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB or Bureau) appeal concerning the vacated amendments to its Unfair, Deceptive, or Abusive Acts and Practices (UDAAP) Examination Manual. This dismissal, following a joint stipulation by the parties, aligns with the CFPB’s newly announced supervision and enforcement priorities for 2025.

Yesterday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit issued an order temporarily halting the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB or Bureau) mass layoffs. The court granted an emergency motion to enforce or clarify its previous order, reinstating the preliminary injunction that prevents the CFPB from executing reductions in force (RIFs).

Yesterday, President Donald J. Trump issued an executive order titled “Restoring Equality of Opportunity and Meritocracy.” This order aims to eliminate the use of disparate impact liability in all contexts, emphasizing the importance of treating all citizens equally under the law and promoting a merit-based, colorblind society.

In this episode of The Consumer Finance Podcast, Chris Willis is joined by Troutman Pepper Locke colleagues Lori Sommerfield and Lane Page to dissect two unexpected fair lending developments under the new Trump administration. First, we unpack the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) surprising move to vacate its own redlining consent order with Townstone Financial, Inc. We then analyze the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s (FHFA) dramatic policy shift requiring two government sponsored enterprises (GSEs, namely Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac) to terminate special purpose credit programs (SPCPs), as well as the broader implications for mortgage lenders. Join us for the twists and turns of this evolving fair lending regulatory landscape and learn what steps institutions should consider taking to mitigate risks.

At an emergency hearing this morning in National Treasury Employees Union v. Vought, Judge Amy Berman Jackson once again halted the layoffs of over 1,000 employees at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). The judge emphasized the need for a comprehensive record to determine whether the firings complied with the D.C. Circuit’s order from last week (discussed here).

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB or Bureau) is undergoing significant changes as the Trump administration implements sweeping layoffs just days after revising the Bureau’s regulatory priorities. According to reports, approximately 1,400-1,500 employees have received reduction-in-force notices, leaving the CFPB with just over 200 personnel to carry out its regulatory activities. This drastic reduction raises critical questions about the agency’s ability to effectively focus on its newly outlined priorities for 2025.

This article was republished on insideARM on April 22, 2025.

Yesterday, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB or Bureau) released a memo to staff outlining its new supervision and enforcement priorities for 2025.

On April 9, the White House issued a memorandum directing federal executive departments and agencies to repeal regulations deemed unlawful pursuant to certain U.S. Supreme Court decisions. This directive aims to address regulatory barriers that the Trump administration believes hinder economic growth and innovation. The memorandum implements Executive Order 14219, issued on February 19, 2025, which ordered the heads of all federal agencies to identify unlawful and potentially unlawful regulations within 60 days and begin plans to repeal them. Now, the administration is directing agencies to prioritize that review under 10 watershed Supreme Court cases, and to repeal regulations that are considered unlawful under those cases without public notice and comment, if possible.