In response to a U.S. District Court judge’s decision to deny Leandra English’s initial motion for a temporary restraining order against the Trump Administration for attempting to install White House Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney as Acting Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Committee on Financial Services, made the following statement:

“This is just the beginning of what will likely be a long legal battle. While the temporary restraining order has been denied, the merits of the case have yet to be decided.

“The Dodd-Frank statute is clear that the Deputy Director of the Consumer Bureau shall serve as Acting Director in the absence or unavailability of the Director. Leandra English, the Consumer Bureau’s Deputy Director, is the lawful Acting Director and she should be allowed to serve in that capacity until a Director is confirmed by the Senate.

“Regarding Mick Mulvaney’s illegal move to freeze hiring and new regulations at the Consumer Bureau, let’s be clear: any move to freeze the activities of the Consumer Bureau is a move to hurt consumers, prevent victims of fraud from receiving compensation, and help cover for abusive financial institutions that rip off consumers. Mr. Mulvaney is not the legitimate Acting Director of the Consumer Bureau, and he does not have the legitimate authority to constrain its important work.”

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