Multiple industry associations applauded last week when the U.S. Senate Banking Committee voted to advance President Trump’s nomination of Brian Johnson to serve as director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), moving the process to full Senate confirmation.

Lawmakers voted 13–11 in favor of Johnson’s nomination, with Sen. Tim Scott, a South Carolina Republican and committee chair saying ahead of the vote, “If confirmed, I expect him to fight fraud and abuse, respect the law, and preserve access to affordable credit.”

The American Financial Services Association (AFSA) highlighted in a blog post that Johnson “brings deep and directly relevant experience to the role.”

AFSA recapped that Johnson previously served as deputy director of the CFPB, where he oversaw the agency’s rulemaking, supervision, and enforcement activities, and helped establish initiatives, including the Office of Innovation and the Taskforce on Federal Consumer Financial Law.

Johnson has also held senior positions on the House Committee on Financial Services, where his work spanned consumer protection and credit, mortgage origination, credit reporting, banking, and data security.

Johnson’s work in the private sector has included stints with Patomak Global Partners, a regulatory and compliance consulting firm and law firm Alston & Bird.

“With this deep and varied experience, Mr. Johnson understands the consumer credit marketplace and the importance of clear, consistent regulation that protects consumers while preserving access to credit. AFSA looks forward to working with him and his team, and we urge the Senate to give his nomination prompt and careful consideration,” the association said in the blog post.

Similar sentiments came from Consumer Bankers Association (CBA) president and CEO Lindsey Johnson, who issued the following statement:

“CBA applauds the Senate Banking Committee for advancing Brian Johnson’s nomination to serve as director of the CFPB. This … vote represents an important step toward providing the bureau with confirmed leadership, and we urge the full Senate to act swiftly on his nomination,” Johnson said.

“Mr. Johnson’s extensive experience on consumer financial services policy will be valuable as the CFPB considers issues that directly affect consumers, banks, and the broader financial marketplace,” she continued. “Senate confirmation would provide an opportunity to bring greater stability and predictability to the bureau while ensuring its work remains grounded in its statutory mission. CBA urges the Senate to confirm Mr. Johnson and looks forward to engaging with him on policies that protect consumers, support a competitive and innovative financial marketplace, and provide banks with clear and consistent regulatory guidelines.”

Leadership of the Defense Credit Union Council (DCUC) also offered support for Johnson to lead the CFPB.

DCUC president and CEO Anthony Hernandez said, “We welcome the Senate Banking Committee’s advancement of Brian Johnson’s nomination and the continued process toward new leadership at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The CFPB plays an important role in protecting consumers, and its policies have a direct impact on credit unions’ ability to serve their members.

DCUC chief advocacy officer Jason Stverak added, “Credit unions need a CFPB that is focused on its core mission while recognizing the unique role credit unions play in their communities.

“We look forward to working with CFPB leadership on a practical, balanced regulatory approach that protects consumers, provides greater clarity for credit unions, supports responsible innovation, and avoids unnecessary burdens that can make it harder to deliver affordable financial services,” Stverak went on to say. “We will continue advocating for policies that strengthen consumer financial protections while preserving credit unions’ ability to meet the evolving needs of their members nationwide.”

As the vote reflected, there are individuals who have questions about Johnson overseeing the CFPB, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, who is the ranking member of the Senate Banking Committee.

“The CFPB is supposed to be the financial cop on the beat to help families who are getting ripped off by their credit card companies, unfairly charged by their banks, or scammed by payday lenders,” Warren said ahead of last week’s committee vote. “But President Trump has all but shut down the entire financial police force, eliminating enforcement of the nation’s consumer protection laws. This roll back has already cost Americans over $26 billion. That’s painful for working families, but financial titans, massive corporations, and giant banks are smiling as they rake in the dough.

“The CFPB under President Trump is one more example of Trump’s policy agenda: higher costs for consumers, and corrupt giveaways to wealthy insiders,” she continued. “And Mr. Johnson is a Capital One executive who has spent his entire career spinning through the revolving door. In fact, Mr. Johnson, who would be the main regulator over Capital One, was being paid by Capital One while he sat right in this room during his nomination hearing. Evidently, the plan is to stick to that same script: President Trump’s agenda of the rich getting richer, and everyone else getting stuck with the bills.

“It is irresponsible of Congress to advance Johnson or any other nominee who will be a rubber stamp for Trump’s failed policies,” Warren added.