On November 20, 2025, the Government Executive reported that the CFPB will furlough much of its workforce on December 31, 2025, and transfer its remaining litigation and enforcement cases to the DOJ. This development follows the administration’s decision to stop drawing funds from the Federal Reserve, the statutory mechanism that has historically supported the bureau’s operations.
Prior attempts to significantly reduce CFPB staffing and curtail its activities have been tied up in litigation for much of the year, and current funding restrictions prevent formal layoffs until January. According to the report, CFPB’s acting enforcement head communicated that all agency employees, including approximately 170 enforcement personnel, are expected to enter unpaid furlough status at year-end. DOJ has already established an Enforcement and Affirmative Litigation Branch within its Civil Division, which is anticipated to assume responsibility for CFPB’s active cases beginning in 2026. While CFPB staff continue to work on a limited number of matters, questions remain regarding the continuity of enforcement actions once they transition to DOJ.
The CFPB’s union has challenged the legality of the administration’s actions, warning that the move could significantly weaken consumer protection oversight.
Read the Government Executive’s report here.