Trump nominates Brian Johnson to lead the CFPB

President Trump on June 10, 2026, nominated Brian Johnson, a former No. 2 official at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, to serve as the agency's permanent director for a five-year term — a choice that points to continued deregulation of consumer lending.

Key takeaways

• Johnson served as CFPB deputy director during Trump's first term and now works in compliance at Capital One and at Patomak Partners.
• He is the third nominee Trump has advanced for the post; the CFPB has lacked a Senate-confirmed director since Rohit Chopra was removed in February 2025.
• Chief Legal Officer Mark Paoletta is expected to serve as acting director until the Senate acts.

What the nomination signals for small-dollar lending

Johnson brings more than a decade on Capitol Hill, including as chief counsel to the House Financial Services Committee, plus law-firm and regulatory experience. His return aligns with the current administration's deregulatory posture: under Acting Director Russell Vought, the Bureau has cut staff and eased oversight and enforcement. Sen. Elizabeth Warren opposed the pick, saying, "here comes the next hatchet man to try to finish the job and gut an agency that has returned more than $21 billion to cheated consumers." Industry groups welcomed the nomination.

What it means for payday and installment borrowers

The CFPB writes and enforces federal rules covering payday, title, installment and paycheck-advance products. A confirmed director who favors lighter-touch regulation could slow new federal restrictions and enforcement, shifting more oversight to state attorneys general and legislatures. The nomination now heads to the Senate, where confirmation timing is uncertain.