Trump budget director, Project 2025 architect, bills consumer agency he slashed to the bone - $5m for his own security [View all]

Robert Reich @RBReich
Russ Vought, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's acting director, has gutted the agency's budget and enforcement work protecting Americans from financial predators and scams. Meanwhile, Vought is billing the CFPB $4.7M for his own security detail.

___The Office of Management and Budget is now billing CFPB $4.7 million for Russ Vought’s security detail, according to a memorandum obtained by Government Executive. The memo, sent by CFPB’s deputy chief financial officer to staff last week, spells out that OMB and CFPB are entering into an interagency agreement to pay the costs.

The memo spelled out that the agreement was “on a fast track,” despite the funding not being included in the bureau’s fiscal 2025 budget. The $4.7 million will cover Vought’s security through December, meaning it will draw from both fiscal years 2025 and 2026. The CFO’s office noted funding will have to be shifted to the director’s front office to cover the costs. Vought is CFPB’s acting director.

Rachel Cauley, a spokesperson for OMB and CFPB, blamed the media for creating an alleged rise in threats against members of the Trump administration.

She did not respond to questions regarding why CFPB was footing the bill for Vought’s security or whether the bureau’s share represented the entirety of the director’s security expense.

President Trump and Vought have pushed to essentially eliminate CFPB, seeking to lay off nearly the entire staff and prevent it from conducting most investigations. Those layoffs have been blocked by a federal court and employees are back at work, though their casework has been significantly diminished.

https://www.govexec.com/management/2025/07/russ-vought-bills-cfpb-5m-his-security-detail/406928/