Russell Vought, the acting director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, ordered staffers at the agency to stop all work in an email Saturday night.
"I am committed to implementing the President's policies, consistent with the law, and acting as a faithful steward of the Bureau's resources," Vought wrote in the email reviewed by USA TODAY. "Effective immediately, unless expressly approved by the Acting Director or required by law, all employees, contractors and other personnel of the bureau shall … cease all supervision and examination activity."
Employees were also directed not to start or continue investigations, to stop existing investigations, not to approve or issue any proposed rules or guidance and not to issue any public communications.