Tue Mar 04 13:10:00 UTC 2025: **Federal Judge Blocks Mass Firings at Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Amidst Accusations of Agency Shutdown**

Washington, D.C. – A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from mass firings at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), citing concerns that the agency is being deliberately crippled. Judge Amy Berman Jackson issued the ruling Monday following conflicting statements from administration officials regarding the agency’s future.

While the CFPB’s Chief Operating Officer, Adam Martinez, recently claimed the administration is merely “right-sizing” the agency and not attempting to eliminate it entirely, employees have presented sworn declarations detailing a near-complete work stoppage following a February 10th order from Acting Director Russell Vought. These declarations contradict Martinez’s assertion that some statutorily mandated work has resumed.

Court filings from CFPB employees allege a plan to reduce the agency’s workforce from 1,700 to a mere five employees. Judge Jackson expressed skepticism, questioning whether the administration is attempting to “starve it to death” after failing to outright shut it down. The judge’s temporary order prevents this, ensuring the CFPB isn’t “choked out of its very own existence” before a final ruling.

The conflicting accounts prompted Judge Jackson to schedule another hearing on March 10th, where Martinez will be compelled to testify. The judge also requested testimony from employees with firsthand knowledge of the agency’s current operational status. The plaintiffs argue that the administration’s actions represent a serious breach of separation of powers, obstructing the agency’s congressionally mandated duties. The situation is further complicated by conflicting statements and sworn declarations from multiple CFPB employees, highlighting the uncertainty surrounding the agency’s future.

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