Russell Vought assumed the role of acting director at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on a Friday evening. A source familiar with the situation informed CNN that officials from Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency had erased the banking watchdog’s X account. Vought’s appointment, initially disclosed by The Wall Street Journal, followed his Senate confirmation to head the Office of Management and Budget.
According to the source, Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) representatives were granted administrative privileges over CFPB systems, encompassing the content management system, back-end systems for the bureau’s website, and the active personnel directory.
On Friday afternoon, Musk tweeted “CFPB RIP” along with a tombstone emoji. Later that night, the DOGE team assumed control over the CFPB’s X account, subsequently deleting it. The CFPB homepage seemed to have vanished, replaced by a “404 page not found” message. Nevertheless, other sections of the website were operational.
The atmosphere within the CFPB was described as one of dismay and anger by the aforementioned source. Despite requests for comment from CNN, neither the White House nor the CFPB had responded at the time of reporting.
The decision to remove the CFPB’s X account followed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s directive to halt nearly all agency operations, without specifying the duration of the freeze. A letter endorsed by numerous House Democrats urged Bessent to retract what they perceived as an unlawful cessation of work.
Initiated by Rep. Maxine Waters, the missive, supported by members of the House Financial Services Committee, expressed deep concern about the attempts to sideline the CFPB. The legislators sought clarification from Bessent on the implications of the freeze for consumers previously harmed by financial institutions.
Senator Elizabeth Warren, a key figure on the Senate Banking Committee, cautioned President Donald Trump that the freeze contradicted the Administration’s commitment to preventing debanking and reducing costs for American households. She warned that more Americans could lose access to deposit accounts unjustly.
This report was enhanced with additional input from CNN’s Jeanne Sahadi.
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