Senate Banking Committee Schedules Confirmation Hearing for CFPB Director Nominee Brian Johnson
The U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs has scheduled a confirmation hearing for Brian Johnson, President Donald Trump’s nominee to serve as Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).
The hearing is set for July 23, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. EDT in the Dirksen Senate Office Building and represents the next stage in the Senate confirmation process for the CFPB leadership position.
Confirmation Hearing Scheduled for July 23
According to the Senate Banking Committee, the hearing will begin following an executive session to consider several unrelated nominations.
The Committee will then convene in open session to consider the nominations of Brian Johnson for CFPB Director, Abby Warren for Assistant Secretary of the Department of Commerce, and Irving Dennis for Chief Financial Officer of the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
If confirmed by the Senate, Johnson would become the first Senate-confirmed CFPB Director during President Trump’s second administration.
Johnson Previously Served in CFPB Leadership
Johnson previously held senior leadership positions at the CFPB between December 2017 and March 2020, serving as Acting Deputy Director and later Deputy Director for much of that period.
His prior experience at the Bureau is expected to be a focus during the confirmation process as lawmakers evaluate his approach to leading the agency.
Nomination Comes Amid CFPB Restructuring
The confirmation process comes as the CFPB continues broader organizational changes, including a proposed 2026 reduction-in-force (RIF).
Earlier this year, the CFPB and the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) jointly requested a stay in litigation challenging the proposed workforce reductions. The request was granted by U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson, allowing the case to remain on hold pending the outcome of Johnson’s confirmation.
As per the court filings, if confirmed, Johnson would have the opportunity to determine whether to proceed with, modify, or discontinue the Bureau’s proposed workforce reduction plan.
Judge Jackson’s order also requires the parties to file a joint status report within two days of Johnson’s confirmation.
Committee Expected to Examine Bureau Priorities
The hearing is expected to provide lawmakers with an opportunity to question Johnson about his priorities for the CFPB.
Lawmakers are expected to question Johnson on issues including:
- The Bureau’s proposed workforce restructuring.
- Supervisory, enforcement, and rulemaking priorities.
- Implementation of the CFPB’s reduced statutory funding cap.
- Pending regulations and ongoing litigation.
- Johnson’s broader vision for the agency under the Trump administration.
The hearing could provide the first detailed public indication of how Johnson would approach the Bureau’s regulatory and supervisory responsibilities if confirmed.
Interim Leadership Remains in Place
The CFPB’s leadership is also expected to change while the confirmation process continues.
According to the announcement, Russell Vought’s term as Acting Director is scheduled to expire on Aug. 1. At that time, Mark Paoletta, the CFPB’s current Acting Deputy Director and Chief Legal Officer, is expected to assume the role of Acting Director unless Johnson has been confirmed by the Senate and sworn into office.
Next Steps
Following the July 23 hearing, the Senate Banking Committee will determine whether to advance Johnson’s nomination to the full Senate for confirmation.
The outcome could influence the CFPB’s leadership transition as well as decisions related to the agency’s restructuring efforts, regulatory agenda, and ongoing litigation.
