Senate Sends Levenbach Nomination To Be CFPB Director Back To President, Allowing Vought To Serve Longer As Acting Director

The headline refers to a procedural move by the U.S. Senate that effectively extends Russell Vought’s tenure as Acting Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) into mid‑2026.​

What the Senate did

• On January 3, 2026, the Senate returned President Trump’s nomination of Stuart Levenbach to be CFPB Director to the White House without voting on it.​

• Because the Senate neither confirmed nor rejected Levenbach, the nomination simply lapsed at the start of the new Senate session.​

Why this affects Vought’s tenure

• Under the Federal Vacancies Reform Act, an acting official can stay longer if there is a pending nomination for the permanent position and then for an additional 210 days if that nomination is withdrawn, rejected, or returned.​

• Since Levenbach was the “second” nominee for CFPB Director, the return of his nomination triggers an extra 210‑day window, allowing Acting Director Russell Vought to remain in charge of the CFPB through about August 1, 2026.​

The strategy behind the Levenbach nomination

• Levenbach is an associate director at the Office of Management and Budget, with a portfolio in natural resources, energy, science, and water, and no significant background in consumer protection.​

• Multiple reports describe his nomination as a technical or procedural maneuver designed specifically to extend Vought’s time as acting CFPB head while the Trump administration pursues an aggressive effort to shrink or effectively close the bureau.​

What happens after August 1, 2026

• The Vacancies Reform Act does not allow an additional extension by simply nominating a third person; the special extension applies only for up to two nominations.​

• If no new director has been nominated and confirmed by August 1, 2026, the CFPB’s Deputy Director (currently Geoff Gradler) would automatically become the new acting director starting August 2, 2026.​