Office of Management and Budget director Russell Vought is now also the acting director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, where he has directed staff to not issue any new rules, to suspend effective dates of all final rules and to stop any new investigations.

Vought, also a Project 2025 author, was named acting director of the CFPB on Friday.

"I am honored that President Trump designated me as Acting Director of the Bureau on February 7, 2025," Vought said in an email to CFPB colleagues obtained by RealClearPolitics. "As Acting Director, I am committed to implementing the President's policies, consistent with the law, and acting as a faithful steward of the Bureau's resources."

He issued several directives that, effective immediately, must be followed by all employees, contractors and other CFPB personnel "unless expressly approved by the Acting Director or required by law," according to RealClearPolitics.

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The directives include not approving or issuing any proposed or final rules or formal or informal guidance and for the bureau to suspend the effective dates of all final rules that have been issued or published but have not gone into effect.

Vought also ordered the bureau not to "commence, take investigative activities related to, or settle enforcement actions." CFPB must not open any new investigation in any manner and must cease any pending probes, he said.

The acting director said the CFPB shall not issue public communications of any type, including research papers.

Additionally, the CFPB must not approve or execute any material agreements, including those related to employee matters or contractors, and must not make or approve filings or appearances by the bureau in any litigation except to ask for a pause in proceedings.

The bureau was also told to cease all supervision and examination activity and to cease all stakeholder engagement.

Vought also sent a letter to the Federal Reserve requesting no money for the CFPB's third quarter of fiscal year 2025.

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"Pursuant to the Consumer Financial Protection Act, I have notified the Federal Reserve that CFPB will not be taking its next draw of unappropriated funding because it is not 'reasonably necessary' to carry out its duties," Vought wrote on X. "The Bureau's current balance of $711.6 billion is in fact excessive in the current fiscal environment. This spigot, long contributing to CFPB's unaccountability, is now being turned off."

This comes after Vought was confirmed by the Senate on Thursday to lead the Office of Management and Budget.

Fox News Digital has reached out to CFPB for further comment. 

The saying goes that a cobbler’s kids have no shoes. But my own experience in creating an estate and legacy planning product after the passing of my father over a decade ago has ensured that I practice what I preach.  

Given that I know how important formalizing my wishes and information is, I recently updated my own estate plan. Here’s why you should update yours, too — or get on it if you haven’t already put one in place. 

Whether you are asset-heavy or asset-light, have many dependents or none, or have complex or simple affairs, putting an estate plan together is critical to make sure your wishes are carried out and that your loved ones aren’t overwhelmed by the process. Being organized now helps save your loved ones’ time, money and grief when they need it the most. 

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So, what should you put in place or revisit? 

First, make sure you have an updated will. This will legally set forth your wishes and make the process easier for your loved ones to work through. From clarity on what happens to your assets and personal effects to even who gets your loyalty points, being thoughtful up front assists your loved ones in carrying out your wishes while minimizing fighting between family and friends.  

My suggestion is — if you have a family dynamic that allows for it — include your loved ones in the process. This way, family members can voice their concerns and thoughts while you are still alive and feel like they are part of the process. Plus, some of the decisions may impact them directly, such as if family members want to be buried near each other and need to secure burial plots.  

Or perhaps some family members are more comfortable playing certain roles while other members don’t want the responsibility. A frank conversation can help sort this out now when emotions aren’t in overdrive. 

While there are online options to get a quick will, and that is certainly better than having no will, you may want to contact an estate planning attorney, who can give clarity on state rules that pertain to estates. Attorneys can often offer up strategies or referrals for information around tax planning and efficiency as well. They will also make sure you have the appropriate witnesses and notarization as required by your state. 

My estate plan also includes powers of attorney for healthcare decisions and personal property decisions. Powers of attorney grant someone the ability to make a decision on your behalf if you cannot make those yourself, such as due to an accident or other mental incapacitation.  

In addition to deciding who plays that role, it sets forth parameters for that person to follow. Your healthcare power of attorney can include directives around organ donation and burial vs. cremation, among other health and final wishes decisions.   

While putting together your will and powers of attorney are great first steps, they won’t cover all your wishes and information. Think through your digital assets. What do you want your loved ones to have access to from your digital files, and what do you maybe not want anyone to see? Do you want a note left on your social media account to alert friends who may not hear about something happening to you? This is something you can put into your will directly or lay out in the given location within your legacy and wishes planning kit. 

And, as you put this plan and related directives together, make sure your loved ones can find everything! It doesn’t help to have a will or power of attorney that nobody can find! I previously wrote about the Aretha Franklin will saga, where no will was found, then several different copies surfaced, including one found in the cushions of her couch. The ensuing legal battle took five years to resolve!  

You want to make it easy for your loved ones to find your wishes, information and documents. Consider building out a full legacy and wishes planning kit, like my Future File kit or similar kit you put together, that contains any information plus anything physical that a loved one or estate executor may need to access in one place. 

This is where copies of your will and powers of attorney should be left. If you don’t want to physically put them in the kit, you can instead leave instructions on how to access them.  

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I hear from people that things like safe deposit box keys often are a major challenge to find if they are not organized in one location, like a legacy kit. Sometimes, a loved one may not know how to contact your estate planning attorney, accountant, financial advisor, bank, or other key service providers. This information should also make it into your kit as part of a comprehensive estate plan.   

A side benefit of having a kit is that you have one thing to grab in case of an emergency situation, whether that be an accident, natural disaster or otherwise. 

How should you get started on your estate plan or your update? Consider getting a kit like Future File that asks questions and helps you think through your wishes. Where prompted, take that information to expert service providers, starting with an estate planning attorney, to get your legal documents in order. Finally, make sure your loved ones can access that information you can put together. 

Even though I did my estate plan and legacy kit a while ago, circumstances changed and I felt a ton of relief after finishing an update. 

Don’t put it off — nobody knows what tomorrow may bring, as we are constantly reminded. It will give you peace of mind to know it is taken care of and will save your loved ones a lifetime of grief, as well as a ton of time and money in their time of need. 

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM CAROL ROTH

Do you know the difference between 550 and 780? Yes, they’re 230 digits apart, but they’re also examples of bad and good credit scores, respectively.

Win a pair of $329 Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses. Enter here, no purchase necessary!

If you don’t check yours regularly, now’s the time to start. Small mistakes are a lot more common than you think, and they can do some serious damage to your credit score. I’ll let you in on some of the most common credit report mistakes and what you can do to fix them.

5-MINUTE CLEANUP FOR YOUR PHONE AND COMPUTER

Step 1: Get your free credit report

The three credit reporting agencies (TransUnion, Experian and Equifax) are required by law to provide you with one free credit report a year. Sweet. There are a few ways you can request a copy from each agency.

Online is the fastest route. If you submit a request via phone or mail, expect to wait two weeks after the paperwork is received.

Pro tip: Grab your report from the fourth credit bureau, Innovis, too.

Step 2: Look for the most common mistakes

Typos or wrong info: Anything from your name spelled incorrectly to your address or your birthdate off by one number. Tiny mistakes can mix up your credit with someone else’s.

Accounts you don’t recognize: If you see something you don’t recognize, don’t ignore it! This includes credit cards you never applied for, loans in your name or purchases you didn’t make.

Duplicates: It’s not normal to see a debt twice on a credit report. This includes things like the same collection account, transferred debts showing as separate accounts or paid-off debts still sitting there.

Incorrect account info: Sometimes, payments can mistakenly show up as late, or closed accounts may still show as active. Other times, reports may show the wrong credit limit or mess up your payment history.

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Outdated info: Bankruptcies older than 10 years, late payments older than seven years and outdated collections accounts should not be showing on your credit report.

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Step 3: Report anything strange

Don’t panic! Write down and make copies of anything that looks off, then file a dispute with the credit reporting company by mail, phone or online.

If you’re filing online or by mail, explain in writing exactly what’s wrong and why, and include copies of documents with proof. Make sure to include your contact info, credit report confirmation numbers and a copy of your version of your credit report.

And always follow up! Bureaus are required to look into your disputes within 30 days. Track its progress until you have a resolution in writing. If your dispute is valid, the bureau has to fix it and tell the other bureaus as well.

A lot of these issues boil down to good old-fashioned human error. It happens, but don’t let that stop you from taking charge.

Related: How to run a 5-minute privacy check on your phone

While you’re at it, find your job number

Equifax also runs a database of 716 million income and employment records, including, potentially, yours. It’s called The Work Number, and employers use it to make sure you are who you say you are.

Your Employment Data Report (EDR) includes things like where you’ve worked, when you worked there and your exact past salary numbers.

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Trying to get a new job? An employer could use your EDR to find your past salary range and lowball you in negotiations. And, of course, Equifax will sell your EDR to anyone who’s buying, including debt collectors. 

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How to stop it

You can freeze your EDR just like a credit report. You can also see who’s tried to access it within the past two years. You’ll need to make an account with The Work Number to do it. 

Once you register, look over your report and make sure it’s accurate. Fill out this data dispute form if you find anything fishy.

Then, head back to the dashboard and click Freeze Your Data. Fill out the Data Freeze Placement Form and submit it. The Work Number will send you a freeze confirmation letter, along with a PIN. Save your PIN in your password manager. You’ll need it if you ever want to unfreeze your report.

You can always log into The Work Number or call them to unfreeze your report.

If you can’t find your employer: They may not be registered with The Work Number. Call the freeze helpline at 1-800-367-2884 to double-check.

Unless you’re actively applying for a loan or government benefits, or unless an employer actively requests your EDR, it’s a no-brainer to freeze it. And if a potential employer insists on checking your EDR to hire you, maybe it’s not the right fit after all.

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President-elect Trump announced several appointments to his administration Thursday, including the team that will work with his nominee for the U.S. Treasury, Scott Bessent.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump announced that Ken Kies will serve as assistant secretary for tax policy.

Kies, who has worked as a tax lawyer for 47 years, has served as the chief of staff for the Joint Committee on Taxation and the chief Republican tax counsel of the House Ways and Means Committee.

Also joining the team is Alexandra Preate, who Trump appointed as senior counsel to the secretary.

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Trump said Preate is an accomplished executive in public relations.

Trump appointed Hunter McMaster to serve as the director of policy planning and Daniel Katz was appointed to serve as chief of staff.

Katz, Trump wrote, is a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute and a graduate of Yale. Katz also served as a senior adviser at the Treasury Department.

Trump’s appointment as deputy chief of staff in the Treasury Department is Samantha Schwab, who worked in the White House Office of Legislative Affairs during the president-elect’s first term.

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"All of them are incredible, hardworking Patriots, who will work tirelessly to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN," Trump said of the team.

In addition to the Treasury Department appointments, Trump announced that Benjamin Leon James will serve as the next U.S. ambassador to Spain.

"Benjamin is a highly successful entrepreneur, equestrian, and philanthropist. He came to the U.S. from Communist Cuba at 16-years-old, with only five dollars in his pocket, and proceeded to build his company, Leon Medical Centers, into an incredible business," Trump wrote. 

"He has helped support many worthy causes, like La Liga Contra el Cancer, and important Medical Research at Johns Hopkins and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute."

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Trump also appointed Joe Popolo to serve as the next U.S. ambassador to the Netherlands.

Popolo helped transform the Freeman Company into what Trump called "the world’s leading live event brand experience company."

Popolo also serves as founder and CEO of Charles & Potomac Capital, LLC; the chairman of the board of Pinnacle Live, LLC; and, as a board member of Ondas Holdings.

"Joe is an E&Y Entrepreneur of the Year Award winner, and also a recipient of the Dallas Business Journal’s Most Admired CEO Award," Trump wrote. "He is a proud graduate of Boston College, a member of their Board of Regents, and also, a Patron of the Arts in the Vatican Museum."

Trump also appointed Cora Alvi to serve as his deputy chief of staff.

Alvi, Trump wrote, most recently worked as the national deputy finance director for Donald J. Trump for President Inc.