HR 10184: Consumer Financial Protection Accountability and Reform Act of 2026

HR 10184 in plain English: This bill would reform the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) by raising the asset threshold that determines which financial institutions fall under its direct supervision from $10 billion to $30 billion, and by establishing new rules for earned wage access services and small-dollar lending products up to $3,500.

Stated purpose

To reform the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (CFPB) by changing how it is funded, increasing oversight and transparency, clarifying its legal authority, and adjusting how it supervises financial companies and enforces consumer protection rules.

Key points

• Raises the CFPB's large-bank supervision asset threshold from $10 billion to $30 billion, reducing the number of banks under direct CFPB oversight
• Defines 'small-dollar products' as loans or lines of credit of $3,500 or less, subject to specific regulatory rules
• Prohibits earned wage access providers from setting any default tip amount greater than $0, and bars requiring confirmation when a consumer selects a $0 tip
• Adjusts certain civil penalty thresholds, including changing one penalty cap from $1,000,000 to $50,120

Arguments supporters make

• Placing the CFPB under the regular congressional budget process makes it accountable to elected officials like every other federal agency, instead of operating with unchecked, self-directed funding.
• Defining legal terms like 'abusive' and 'substantial injury' more precisely gives businesses clearer rules to follow and reduces the risk of arbitrary or unpredictable enforcement.
• Creating safe harbors for small-dollar credit and earned wage access products encourages innovation and expands options for consumers who need short-term financial products.

Arguments opponents make

• Subjecting the CFPB to annual congressional appropriations could let political pressure or industry lobbying weaken its budget and limit its ability to enforce consumer protection laws independently.
• Narrowing definitions of abusive practices and limiting enforcement tools may make it harder to stop harmful financial products, leaving consumers with fewer protections.
• Diverting excess civil penalty funds to the Treasury rather than consumer relief or education reduces the money available to help people harmed by financial wrongdoing.

Tradeoffs

Greater congressional control over CFPB funding and narrower legal standards could increase democratic accountability and regulatory predictability for businesses, but may reduce the agency's independence and its capacity to act quickly against consumer harms. Easing supervision thresholds and enforcement powers may lower compliance costs for financial companies while potentially weakening the safety net for consumers.

Current status in Congress: In committee.

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