- United States
- Calif.
- Letter
The CFPB's proposal to dismantle the Equal Credit Opportunity Act contradicts the values of the American public, the financial institutions that serve them, and the clearly stated intentions of Congress. You must oppose this dangerous rewrite and defend the civil rights protections Congress established.
This proposal creates three critical problems. First, eliminating disparate impact liability makes it nearly impossible to police discriminatory effects in AI-driven underwriting systems. Second, narrowing discouragement standards weakens protections against redlining, including in digital marketing where lenders can exclude protected groups through targeting decisions. Third, new burdens on special-purpose credit programs will deter lenders from offering programs Congress explicitly authorized to meet special social needs.
Congress must speak up loudly and forcefully to stop this rule change. The CFPB has no authority to override Congressional intent and strip away enforcement tools that protect communities from discrimination. Block this regulation now and make clear that you will not tolerate any agency dismantling the civil rights protections you enacted.