A U.S. Senate committee on Thursday approved President Donald Trump’s choice of Brian Johnson to head the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, a decision that paves the way for a full Senate vote.
The Republican-controlled Senate Banking Committee cast its vote 13-11 in favor of Johnson, who currently serves as an executive at Capital One. The approval followed Democratic objections regarding his ties to the financial industry and claims that the White House initially sought to dismantle the agency before selecting him.
Johnson previously held the role of deputy director at the CFPB during the first Trump administration. His nomination comes after the administration paused earlier plans to terminate most of the bureau’s staff, allowing Johnson time to evaluate whether those dismissals should proceed.
It remains unclear when the full Senate will schedule a vote on his confirmation. The committee’s action sets up the next step in the confirmation process for the consumer watchdog position.
