Law and legal issues

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau will face an existential crisis in 2026 between the Trump administration's efforts to shut down the agency and the employee union and consumer advocates who want to stop them.

The bank regulator is proposing to strengthen national preemption in the wake of conflicting decisions in related court cases.

A group of 22 Democratic state attorneys general filed a lawsuit against acting Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director Russell Vought, the bureau and the Federal Reserve, arguing that the administration's position that the CFPB cannot be funded is wrong.

A California judge dismissed 13 claims against United Wholesale Mortgage that alleged the lender disclosed personal information to third parties.

Proxy advisory firm Institutional Shareholder Services recommended approval of Fifth Third's $10.9 billion proposed acquisition of Comerica.

The judge's order allows potentially thousands of consumers to join the lawsuit against the company, similar to other fights between borrowers and servicers.

The Massachusetts Democrat requested to see records related to second liens that banks were required to expunge per terms of the 2012 mortgage settlement.

A coalition of mortgagees said the zombie seconds law negatively impacts 1.2 million junior liens statewide, despite just over 500 potential "zombie" loans.

The Rithm affiliate that acquired Specialized Loan Servicing will pay $4.65 million, an amount that includes borrower restitution.

A federal appeals court agreed to have the full bench rehear arguments by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's union about whether the Trump administration planned to gut the agency through mass firings.

The Department of Justice wants Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell to state if the central bank is profitable again and can, therefore, fund the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

The bill's signing comes weeks after one of the most notorious NTRAP providers agreed to legal settlements in two states, nullifying existing contracts.

The lawsuit is the latest scrutiny over personnel moves this year at the companies under the purview of U.S. Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte.

A federal judge recommended that an enhanced real estate reporting requirement, which could send paperwork and costs soaring next year, remain intact.

A former employee cited a ransomware gang's claim in October that it stole 20 terabytes of sensitive customer information from the industry vendor.

A federal court cannot modify a preliminary injunction to compel the acting director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to request funding for the agency, the Department of Justice said.

Democratic senators are calling for Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Scott to compel the acting director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to testify.

An attorney for Christopher J. Gallo, who is battling 18 federal charges, said the lender's 18-month delay in pursuing the sign-on bonus makes little sense.

In oral arguments held Monday morning, a majority of Supreme Court justices seemed poised to overrule a 90-year-old precedent validating multimember independent commissions, but it remains uncertain what limits — if any — the court may impose on the president's removal powers.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's acting Director Russell Vought has an obligation to request funding for the agency, five former Federal Reserve officials said. Plus, three nonprofits sue Vought and the CFPB.