Waters Seeking Whistleblowers at CFPB

Citing surveys that found widespread morale problems at the CFPB, House Financial Services Chairwoman Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) is urging employees at the agency who believe the bureau’s work is being subverted to blow the whistle on their bosses.

“I am writing to reassure you of the importance and value of your work, and to let you know, in no uncertain terms, that the anti- consumer actions mandated by Trump appointees will not be tolerated,” she said in an open letter to employees, in which she also provided details about whistleblower protections.

The CFPB conducted a survey of all 1,540 agency employees in August, and 72% of them responded. Some 54.4% of those responding said they do not have a high level of respect for the agency’s senior leadership, while 29.2% said they did.

The results came on the heels of another report conducted by the Partnership for Public Service. The group conducts an annual “Best Places to Work” study. This year’s results placed the CFPB as second-to-last among mid-size agencies.

In that study, on the issue of effective leadership, the CFPB dropped 15.2 points, to a score of 54.9 out of 100. Employee views of senior leaders at the CFPB dropped even more – 35.6 points, to a score of 33.8.

The survey results likely reflect that most agency employees were hired under former agency Director Richard Cordray, an Obama Administration appointee who aggressively enforced consumer protection rules.

When Cordray left and President Trump appointed CFPB opponent Mick Mulvaney as acting director, Mulvaney began the process of reversing many agency policies.

It was under Mulvaney’s reign that the surveys were conducted.

However, new CFPB Director Kathy Kraninger has signaled that she supports many of the actions taken by Mulvaney.

Waters, a Cordray supporter, has vowed aggressive oversight of the agency under Mulvaney and Kraninger.

“I have been concerned that actions taken, and changes made by Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney were contrary to both the spirit and plain letter of the law and appear to be designed to frustrate the Consumer Bureau’s mission,” she wrote, in the open letter to CFPB employees.

“As Chairwoman of the House Financial Services Committee, I will fight against any and all efforts to weaken the Consumer Bureau and make sure that your important work to protect consumers, as Congress intended, can continue,” she continued.

And she added, “If, in the course of your work, you are a witness to waste, fraud, abuse or gross mismanagement, please do not hesitate to alert me and my staff.”

In the letter, she provided a link to a form on the committee website intended for whistleblowers.