The next leader for the federal consumer financial protection agency would be a staff member of the White House budget office – who has focused on environmental issues — if the Senate confirms the nomination, which it received Tuesday.
According to the Senate’s website, the nomination of Stuart Levenbach – now associate director for natural resources, energy, science and water at the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) – was received in the Senate Tuesday. He was nominated for a five-year term. If confirmed, he would succeed Rohit Chopra, appointed by President Joe Biden ( D), in the position. Chopra resigned earlier this year.
Reuters news service reported that, in addition to his current role (which he assumed this year, after Trump took office), he has served in other positions at the budget office. Before that, he served as chief of staff for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the news service said.
He apparently has little background in financial or consumer regulation; Reuters reported no such service. His profile on the social media site “Linkedin” states that he “began his career studying kelp forests …” The profile also notes that Levenbach served with the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC), the federal planning agency for the nation’s capital.
At the OMB, Levenbach works under Director Russell Vought, who is also now serving as acting director of the CFPB. Vought, Reuters noted, and President Donald Trump ( R) have both called for elimination of the consumer bureau.
PN652 — Stuart Levenbach — Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection
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