With President Trump’s pick, Mick Mulvaney, remaining as the Acting Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the CFPB has filed a motion asking the United States District Court for the District of Kansas to extend briefing deadlines on a motion to dismiss filed in CFPB v. Golden Valley Lending, Inc., et al., No. 2:17-cv-02521. The Court granted the extension.
The CFPB “s[ought] additional time to consult with new leadership before filing its briefs,” given the “recent leadership changes at the Bureau.” This could prove to be a significant development as the change in administrations has led to delays in other cases, wherein an agency has had to reconsider its posture in litigation under the priorities of new leadership. Commentators have anticipated a less aggressive CFPB under Acting Directory Mulvaney than under outgoing Director Richard Cordray, an appointee of President Obama.
Still, an opposition filed by Golden Valley Lending stated that “the Bureau has indicated to Defendants that it does not expect to change its position in any way,” and it will remain to be seen if or how the CFPB changes its posture under Mulvaney’s leadership.
We will continue to monitor the case for further developments.