All work at the CFPB, including supervision and examination activities, has ceased following an order by the bureau’s new acting director. Several rulemakings are also on pause.
The stay for now only applies to some lenders. But a pending court ruling in a Kentucky lawsuit against the bureau’s Section 1071 rule could stay compliance with the rule for all covered entities.
Former FDIC board member Jonathan McKernan has been nominated to head the CFPB. Meanwhile a new acting director shut down all agency activities, spurring staff protests and lawsuits.
The pause was ultimately rescinded following court injunctions. In the meantime, participants in government-insured mortgage programs faced uncertainty.
The Trump administration has initiated an effort to end leases on office space used by the federal government. Some properties in commercial MBS have government leases but few deals face elevated exposures, according to S&P.
CFPB Director Rohit Chopra made a reputation as an aggressive and active regulator, going after bank overdraft charges, credit card late fees and big nonbanks’ wallet apps.
Former CFPB Director Kathy Kraninger said with GOP control of the House and the Senate, it’s possible that the Trump White House will revamp the structure of the CFPB.