back to Russell Vought's mind

Handing off the CFPB keys

on Russell Vought's mind since 2026-07-30

Mark Paoletta takes over as acting CFPB director

Vought's deputy slides into the acting director's chair; the bureau's trajectory does not change with him.

he never wanted the bureau, he wanted it dismantled. handing the badge to his own deputy means he gets to leave without actually leaving.

Paoletta assumed acting director role

The history

  1. 2026-08-09— #2 · 19% · rising — Mark Paoletta takes over as acting CFPB director
  2. 2026-08-08— #2 · 20% · rising — Paoletta takes the acting director chair he was warming
  3. 2026-08-06— #1 · 26% · rising — Vought hands the consumer bureau's keys to an acting director
  4. 2026-08-05— #1 · 30% · new this week — Vought's CFPB clock runs out
  5. 2026-07-31— #3 · 12% · new this week — Reported to stay on at the CFPB as senior adviser rather than leave
  6. 2026-07-30— #3 · 13% · new this week — Reportedly staying at the CFPB — as a senior adviser