CFPB Union Fights Trump Administration’s Attempts to Dismantle Agency

Union workers at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), represented by the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), are actively fighting efforts by the Trump administration to dismantle the agency. As of February 2026, the union has filed lawsuits against acting leadership regarding mass layoffs, forced work stoppages, and unauthorized access to employee records by outside entities.

Key Details (2025–2026)

  • Union Representation: The NTEU represents staff at the CFPB.
  • Active Litigation: The union has sued Acting Director Russell Vought to halt the "shuttering" of the agency, which included orders for employees to cease all work and supervision activities.
  • Job Actions & Firings: In February 2025, dozens of probationary employees were fired, and around 1,700 employees were ordered to stay home.
  • Legal Challenges: The union, alongside other organizations, has challenged the constitutionality of the administration's attempt to unilaterally close the agency, arguing that only Congress has that authority.
  • Work Conditions: In addition to facing layoffs, union members reported that management required staff to read a "humility pledge" before conducting bank exams.

The union's actions are part of a broader, ongoing legal battle to maintain the independence and functioning of the CFPB.

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