David Williams, President of the Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA), has expressed support for layoffs at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). He describes these layoffs as overdue, arguing that the agency has always operated outside the realm of Congressional oversight and is anti-democratic, anti-consumer, and anti-business.
"The CFPB has always operated outside the realm of Congressional oversight and is anti-democratic, anti-consumer, and anti-business," said Williams. "Consumers deserve a fair chance to access the credit products they need without big government getting in the way."
According to the Federal Newswire, the TPA has consistently criticized the CFPB for functioning without meaningful congressional oversight. Williams described it as "absolutely ridiculous" that Congress lacks power over the bureau’s budget or operations. He argues that such autonomy renders the agency unaccountable and inherently undemocratic.
The OPB reports that in April 2025, the CFPB issued layoff notices to approximately 1,400 to 1,500 employees—around 90% of its total workforce. This decision, supported by critics like the TPA, reduced the bureau’s staff to about 200 people. The move represents one of the most significant workforce reductions ever undertaken at a federal financial agency.
The mass layoffs have led to legal scrutiny. A federal district judge initially blocked the firings due to procedural concerns. The court noted that the agency had not conducted a necessary "particularized assessment" to determine whether employees were essential for fulfilling statutory duties. This legal intervention highlights broader concerns about whether the CFPB can continue functioning effectively post-layoffs.
Williams leads the Taxpayers Protection Alliance, a nonprofit based in Washington, D.C., focused on exposing what it perceives as wasteful government spending and regulatory abuse. The group has been particularly critical of the CFPB, launching initiatives such as "CFPB Mission Creep" to document its concerns.
