WASHINGTON—President Trump’s nominee to lead the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau told senators last week he has not decided whether to move forward with plans to sharply reduce the agency’s workforce, saying he would first review staffing levels if confirmed.
Brian Johnson, currently a Capital One executive, told members of the Senate Banking Committee during his confirmation hearing that he would approach the issue with an open mind, Reuters reported. “I would pledge to you to have an open mind to take a look at staffing levels with the agency,” Johnson said.
Johnson’s comments come as the CFPB has faced significant restructuring efforts under Acting Director Russ Vought, who has sought to dramatically scale back the agency.
‘Not My Intention’
According to The Hill, Democratic senators repeatedly questioned Johnson during the hearing about the proposed workforce reductions. When asked whether he intended to eliminate the CFPB, Johnson responded that doing so was “not my intention.” Asked whether he disagreed with any actions taken by Vought, Johnson replied, “None come to mind at the moment,” The Hill reported.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), the ranking Democrat on the Senate Banking Committee, urged lawmakers to reject Johnson’s nomination.
In her opening statement, Warren said Vought’s endorsement of Johnson raised concerns about the nominee’s intentions for the agency.
‘The Most Damning Thing’
“The most damning thing about Mr. Johnson’s nomination is that he has gotten a rousing stamp of approval from the outgoing director, Russ Vought, who spent a year and a half trying to kill the agency and who now says Mr. Johnson will ‘do a great job’ running it — yeah, running it — into the ground,” Warren said.
Johnson joined Capital One in November 2024 as vice president and U.S. card compliance officer after previously serving as a partner at a law firm and as a managing director at a consulting firm. He continues to serve in that role.
Nominee’s Three Priorities
In prepared testimony submitted for the hearing, Johnson outlined three priorities should he be confirmed to lead the CFPB: protecting consumers, particularly those vulnerable to fraud and scams; ensuring the bureau operates within its statutory authority and remains accountable; and modernizing the agency’s operations.
Reuters reported that Johnson did not commit to carrying out the administration’s previously announced plans to dismiss most CFPB employees, instead indicating he would evaluate the agency’s staffing needs before making any decisions.
