1. United States
2. Texas
3. Letter

Gavin Kliger's participation in mass layoffs at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) while owning prohibited investments in companies the agency regulates raises serious conflict of interest concerns. Despite being warned by ethics officials about his investments and advised not to take actions benefiting him personally, Kliger proceeded to help fire over 1,400 CFPB employees, including the entire ethics team that had cautioned him. Kliger disclosed owning up to $715,000 worth of stocks in companies like Apple, Tesla, Alphabet, and others that the CFPB regulates and are on the agency's prohibited holdings list. Experts indicate his actions likely violated federal conflict of interest laws designed to ensure government employees act in the public interest. A decimated CFPB is unlikely to robustly regulate these corporations, potentially boosting their stock valuations to Kliger's personal financial benefit. This apparent ethics breach undermines public trust in the bureau's consumer protection mission. Swift investigation and accountability are needed to uphold the CFPB's integrity and ensure Kliger did not improperly exploit his position for private gain at the expense of the public he was supposed to serve. Robust oversight is critical to preventing such conflicts that call into question the impartiality of government actions.