Judge Blocks CFPB Plan to Check Banks for Discrimination, Says Agency Overstepped Authority
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A federal judge in Texas ruled the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau exceeded its authority by trying to check banks for discrimination.
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The judge said the CFPB needs clear congressional authorization for the power it claims, per a recent Supreme Court ruling on EPA emissions rules.
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The CFPB wanted to use a law barring "unfair, deceptive or abusive acts" by financial firms to check for discrimination.
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The judge said discrimination falls outside the scope of that law, which doesn't specify discrimination.
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Banking groups that sued the CFPB claimed it didn't have authority for the discrimination checks and didn't properly notify firms before implementing them.