Donald Trump fires Rohit Chopra, CFPB director, in latest Biden administration purge

President Donald Trump has dismissed Rohit Chopra, the Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), marking another removal of a Biden administration official.

This decision, announced on February 1, 2025, comes as part of a broader effort by Donald Trump to reshape the leadership of various federal agencies following his return to office.

Rohit Chopra, who had been in his role since his Senate confirmation in 2021, was known for his vigorous enforcement of consumer protection regulations and his commitment to holding financial institutions accountable.

Rohit Chopra learned of his termination via an email from the White House, as confirmed by an anonymous source familiar with the matter. Under the law, Chopra was to serve a five-year term, which meant he could have stayed on as the CFPB director. But he had publicly stated that he would leave his post if the new president asked.

Rohit Chopra's dismissal has drawn attention due to his close ties with Senator Elizabeth Warren, a prominent critic of Donald Trump. 

Warren praised Rohit Chopra's tenure, stating that he effectively worked to protect consumers from predatory practices and ensured that Wall Street was held accountable for exploiting hardworking families.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren is one of Donald Trump's favorite targets, and the Massachusetts Democrat said in a statement that if Trump and Republicans “decide to cower to Wall Street billionaires and destroy the agency, they will have a fight on their hands.” She said the bureau under Chopra had held “Wall Street accountable."

Under Rohit Chopra's leadership, the CFPB focused on issues such as student debt and "junk fees," implementing regulations aimed at reducing costs for consumers.

Rohit Chopra efforts included significant actions against major financial institutions, including a notable case against Navient Corporation, which resulted in substantial penalties and debt relief for many borrowers.

California Rep. Maxine Waters, the top Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee, said in a statement that Rohit Chopra's dismissal “marks the end of an era of strong consumer protection and the beginning of a plan to end this important agency.”

The bureau was created after the 2008 financial crisis to regulate mortgages, car loans and other consumer finance. It has long been opposed by Republicans and their financial backers.