Major CFPB Changes Could Make It Harder For Americans to Get Debt Help

Paige CerulliWed, April 1, 2026 at 10:31 AM UTC

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For years, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has worked to protect consumers from deceptive and unfair practices, including companies that break the law. That includes defending consumers from deceptive and unfair debt collection practices. But recent changes to the CFPB have restricted the bureau and changed how it works, making it harder for Americans in debt to get help and get ahead financially.

Here's what you should know about what's changed and what you can do if you're having issues with a debt collection practice or related service.

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What the CFPB was designed to do

Congress founded the CFPB in response to the 2007-2008 financial crisis. The CFPB first opened in 2011 and functioned as a single bureau to enforce federal consumer financial laws and protect consumers; previously, several agencies had been responsible for those tasks.

The CFPB helps consumers by identifying unfair, deceptive, and abusive practices, enforcing federal law, taking customer complaints, delivering financial education, and more. According to CFPB data December 3, 2024, CFPB enforcement had resulted in $19 million in monetary compensation, principal reductions, canceled debts, and other consumer relief. Additionally, the bureau had sent more than 83,000 complaints about medical debt collection and 96,000 complaints about student loans to companies for response. That's just a small sample of the work the bureau has done.

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The changes made to the CFPB

That 2024 data is the latest available, as in February 2025, the Trump administration assumed control of the CFPB. Republicans and the administration stated that the CFPB had become too large and needed to be downsized.

After seizing control of the CFPB, the Trump administration made many changes, including ordering employees not to work, attempting to reduce the staff from 1,689 to 207 positions, and overturning CFPB decisions that would have given consumers financial relief. For example, a limit on overdraft fees, which was finalized in 2024, would have saved consumers $5 billion a year, but Congress overturned that decision in 2025.

Changes for consumers with credit card debt

One of the CFPB decisions that the Trump administration overturned directly impacts consumers with credit card debt. The CFPB attempted to cap the amount of money that credit card companies could charge consumers in late fees. In 2025, a federal court blocked the regulation. The CFPB was under Trump administration control during the court hearing and decided not to fight the lawsuit.

The rule would have reduced typical credit card late fees from $32 to $8. According to CFPB data, more than 45 million people who are charged late fees would have saved approximately $220 per year. Without that rule, consumers continue to be charged higher late fees on their debts.

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Changes made to the CFPB complaint system

In early 2026, the CFPB made changes to its complaint system that may make it harder for consumers to file complaints against credit reporting companies and debt collectors. The Consumer Data Industry Association (CDIA) requested the CFPB make changes to its complaint system, and the CFPB's actions appeared to be in response to that request.

The CDIA requested that the CFPB:

Require consumers supply sensitive personal information when submitting a complaint

Require two-factor authentication and limit the number of complaints filed per phone number

Preventing IP addresses from submitting complaints for multiple consumers, which would prevent consumers from using locations like libraries to file complaints

Such changes would create several barriers for consumers who need to file a complaint.

How the complaint system changes are affecting consumers

Consumer advocates are speaking out and explaining that changes to the CFPB complaint system could discourage some consumers from filing complaints.

Chi Chi Wu, Director of Consumer Reporting and Data Advocacy at the National Consumer Law Center, told 13 ABC that the complaint platform now features multiple screens that inform consumers to file a dispute with their credit bureau first and then wait for it to be resolved before filing a complaint with the CFPB. Wu noted that the language can be confusing and consumers may think they can't file a CFPB complaint before taking those other steps.

How certain states have higher debt collection issues

Consumers in certain states are more likely to encounter debt collection issues than others. A Kaplan Group analysis of CFPB complaint data found that complaints are largely concentrated in a handful of states. Consumers in Texas, Florida, California, Georgia, and New York had the greatest concentration of debt collection complaints. As a result, the changes to the complaint system may mean that consumers in these states are being particularly underserved.

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Bottom line

Consumers aren't completely without recourse. Laws like the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and Fair Credit Reporting Act still exist to protect consumers, and state attorneys retain strong enforcement authority. If you have a debt-related issue, you can file a complaint with the CFPB using the complaint portal. Additionally, your state Attorney General's office may be able to help.

In light of these sweeping changes to the CFPB and the reduced federal oversight, it's important to be especially wary of debt relief scams. If a debt relief provider contacts you first or requires you to pay them an upfront fee to help you get out of debt, chances are it's a scam. Always carefully research any company you're considering working with and listen to your gut instinct.

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Source: “AOL Money”