Warren presses Trump CFPB nominee if he'd refuse 'unlawful directives'

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) is pressing President Trump's nominee to lead the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) about his loyalty to the Trump administration and whether he would refuse to carry out "unlawful directives."

Warren, who helped establish the CFPB before entering Congress, has railed against efforts by the Trump administration to shutter the agency and sent a letter to Trump's CFPB director pick Jonathan McKernan with 55 questions ahead of his confirmation hearing this week.

The Massachusetts Democrat pressed McKernan over his outlook for CFPB and how he plans to enact future regulations that benefit consumers. She also asked if he would oppose efforts to “weaken the ability of the CFPB to perform its key functions and responsibilities” from President Trump, Elon Musk or other federal officials.

"If confirmed, will you refuse to execute any unlawful directives from President Trump,
Mr. Musk, DOGE, the Office of Management and Budget, or other federal officials?" Warren, the top Democrat on the Senate Banking Committee, wrote Tuesday.

McKernan, a former board member of the FDIC, is set to appear before the Senate panel on Thursday for his confirmation hearing.

Warren in her letter blasted what she called “illegal efforts” by the Trump administration to dismantle the CFPB as Democrats broadly attempt to protect the agency.

She cited a post from Musk, the leader of the Trump-backed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), that read “CFPB RIP” in addition to White House Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought’s communications with staff instructing them “cease all supervision and examination activity.”

The Democratic senator alleged the Trump administration is aiming to erase federal oversight efforts and pressed McKernan to commit "to advocate for consumers, the CFPB, and the robust enforcement of consumer protection law, no matter the directives you receive to the contrary."

“The agency requires a leader who is serious about lowering costs for working Americans, holding bad actors accountable, and proactively protecting the public from scams, fraud, and abuse," she wrote. "CFPB leadership is even more important in light of efforts by President Trump, billionaire Elon Musk, and other members of the Trump Administration to dismantle the agency."

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