Of inquiry requesting the President to provide certain documents in the President's possession to the House of Representatives relating to the access provided to the staff and advisers of, including any individual working for or in conjunction with, the Department of Government Efficiency to the systems, applications, and accounts, and any information contained therein, of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection.

Bill Number

H.Res. 259

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Government Operations and Politics

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-04-02: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

Last Updated

2025-06-03T14:38:51Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

This resolution (H. Res. 259) requests the President to provide specific documents and information to the House of Representatives about access granted to individuals associated with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)—a proposed advisory body aimed at improving government operations—to the systems and data of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (CFPB). The CFPB is a federal agency that protects consumers from unfair financial practices. The goal is to promote transparency and oversight regarding potential risks to sensitive information, such as personal data or confidential financial details.

Key Provisions

The resolution requires the President to submit copies of relevant documents, records, memos, correspondence, or communications within 14 days of adoption. The requested information covers nine main areas:

• Identities and Backgrounds: Names, ages, and professional histories of non-government employees (hired after January 20, 2025) working with DOGE, including named individuals like Elon Musk, who received access to CFPB systems (e.g., websites, social media, physical access controls, and permission systems).
• Access Details for Each Individual:
• Identification of any confidential supervisory information (details on regulated financial institutions), personally identifiable information (private data like names or addresses), or sensitive compartmented information (highly classified data) in accessed systems.
• Required vs. actual clearance levels, authorizations, or permissions for access.
• Whether individuals lacked proper permissions when gaining or planning to gain access.
• Handling of Non-Public Information: Details on any sensitive data that was shared externally, copied, or modified by these individuals, excluding publicly available information under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA, which allows public access to certain government records).
• Access Procedures:
• All required steps (legal or procedural) to grant such access.
• Actual steps taken, timelines, approvers, and permissions granted.
• Documentation for Accessed Individuals: Signed forms for rules of behavior (guidelines for privileged users), access requests with justifications and approvals, and completed training records (e.g., privileged user trainings).
• Conflicts of Interest: Lists of potential conflicts (e.g., financial ties that could bias actions), mitigation steps, and reviewers' identities.
• CFPB Staffing Levels: Full-time equivalent employees as of December 31, 2024, and March 24, 2025, broken down by division and office; plus, employees on stop-work orders or administrative leave (inactive due to directives) as of March 24, 2025, with breakdowns.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This resolution does not amend or create new laws. As a "resolution of inquiry," it is a tool for congressional oversight under House rules, compelling the executive branch to provide information without enacting binding legal changes. It relies on existing constitutional powers of Congress to investigate government activities.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: Could increase scrutiny of DOGE's role in reviewing or reforming agencies like the CFPB, potentially delaying efficiency initiatives or exposing procedural lapses in data security. The CFPB might face operational disruptions if access issues are revealed, affecting its consumer protection work.
• On Citizens: Indirectly protects consumer privacy by probing risks to personal financial data held by the CFPB. No direct impact on international relations, as it focuses on domestic agency operations.
• Broader Effects: May foster greater accountability in how advisory groups interact with federal data systems, but could strain executive-legislative relations if compliance is contested.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• House of Representatives: Sponsors (primarily Democrats on the Financial Services Committee) seeking oversight; the full House would receive the documents.
• Executive Branch: The President and administration, required to respond; DOGE staff and advisers (e.g., Elon Musk and listed individuals) whose access and backgrounds are scrutinized.
• CFPB: Agency employees and operations, with data security and staffing details exposed; consumers relying on its protections could benefit from any resulting safeguards.
• General Public: Taxpayers and financial consumers, as it addresses potential misuse of government-held sensitive information.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Invokes Congress's investigative authority under Article I of the U.S. Constitution, but the President is not legally obligated to comply (resolutions of inquiry are requests, not subpoenas). Non-compliance could lead to further congressional actions, like contempt proceedings.
• Constitutional: Highlights separation of powers tensions between legislative oversight and executive discretion in managing advisory bodies like DOGE.
• Political: Introduced in a potentially divided Congress (119th, starting 2025), it may reflect partisan concerns over a new administration's efficiency reforms, possibly escalating debates on government transparency and agency independence without altering core policies.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Waters, Maxine [D-CA-43]

Cosponsors (22)

Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7], Rep. Sherman, Brad [D-CA-32], Rep. Meeks, Gregory W. [D-NY-5], Rep. Scott, David [D-GA-13], Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8], Rep. Green, Al [D-TX-9], Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5], Rep. Foster, Bill [D-IL-11], Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3], Rep. Vargas, Juan [D-CA-52], Rep. Gonzalez, Vicente [D-TX-34], Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6], Rep. Pressley, Ayanna [D-MA-7], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12], Rep. Torres, Ritchie [D-NY-15], Rep. Garcia, Sylvia R. [D-TX-29], Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5], Rep. Pettersen, Brittany [D-CO-7], Rep. Fields, Cleo [D-LA-6], Rep. Bynum, Janelle [D-OR-5], Rep. Liccardo, Sam [D-CA-16], Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]

Recent Actions

• 2025-04-02: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
• 2025-03-27: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
• 2025-03-27: Submitted in House
• 2025-03-27: Submitted in House

Bill Versions

• Of inquiry requesting the President to provide certain documents in the President’s possession to the House of Representatives relating to the access provided to the staff and advisers of, including any individual working for or in conjunction with, the Department of Government Efficiency to the systems, applications, and accounts, and any information contained therein, of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection. — issued 2025-03-27 — PDF (6 pages)