Key facts
- The Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs advanced Brian Johnson's nomination to lead the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
- The committee voted 13-11 to advance Johnson's nomination.
- Democrats, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren, expressed opposition to Johnson's nomination, citing potential conflicts of interest due to his ties to Capital One.
- Johnson stated he would focus on enforcing the laws assigned to the CFPB.
- The Mortgage Bankers Association expressed support for Johnson's nomination.
The Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs met on Thursday and advanced the nomination of Brian Johnson, President Donald Trump's nominee to become director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). The committee voted 13-11 to advance Johnson's nomination, moving it one step closer to a full Senate vote. Republicans accounted for most of the supporting votes.
During the session, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, the committee's ranking member, expressed opposition to Johnson's nomination, characterizing it as part of a "partisan markup" that would "make a bad economic situation worse." Warren specifically questioned whether Johnson's ongoing ties to Capital One, where he previously served as deputy director and remains on the company's payroll, could create conflicts of interest. Johnson stated he appeared before the committee "in my personal capacity" and opposes dismantling the CFPB, intending to enforce the laws assigned to the agency.
Johnson's advancement comes as the CFPB undergoes restructuring under acting directors Russell Vought and Mark Paoletta. The Mortgage Bankers Association released a statement of support, citing Johnson's experience and understanding of consumer financial services and mortgage markets.
Separately, a Senate health committee will hold a confirmation hearing on September 24 for Dr. Heidi Overton, President Trump's nominee to lead the Food and Drug Administration. Overton, a White House policy aide and preventive medicine physician, previously worked at the America First Policy Institute. The FDA has lost over 3,000 staff in the past year, and Overton faces challenges in steadying the agency.