Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) is calling on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) not to end the investigation into the Equifax data breach, where hackers exposed the personal information of 145 million people.
According to various news outlets, Mick Mulvaney, acting director of the CFPB, has pulled back on plans to estimate the Equifax data breach, which happened last September.
Former CFPB Director Richard Cordray had ordered an investigation into how hackers put the personal information of some 145 Equifax users at-risk. However, Cordray resigned in December.
Reports say Mulvaney has shelved the investigation. The bureau has not ordered subpoenas against Equifax, sought testimony from executives, or investigated how Equifax protects data, according to news reports.
Meanwhile, every state attorney general is investigating the breach, as is the Federal Trade Commission. To date, some 240 class action lawsuits have been filed against Equifax over the breach.
“Refusing to investigate a data breach that put 145 million Americans at risk is malpractice,” Brown said. “Once again, Mr. Mulvaney has made clear he will always side with special interests over the consumers who count on CFPB for help. The Administration needs to swiftly nominate a CFPB director who will protect consumers instead of letting well-connected corporations walk away scot-free.”