“Unfortunately, the Agency finds that you are not fit for continued employment because your ability, knowledge and skills do not fit the agency’s current needs,” dozens of probationary staffers at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) were informed on 11 February.
“It’s been really stressful to potentially lose my way to support my family as the primary breadwinner,” said one of several CFPB employees who spoke on condition of anonymity due to fear of retaliation.
The CFPB has long been known as a popular agency, one that’s recovered more than $21bn for defrauded Americans since its creation in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis.
“For these reasons, I regrettably inform you that I am removing you from your position of [job title], with the agency and the federal service [effective date],” continued the letter from Adam Martinez, CFPB’s chief human capital officer and seen by the Guardian.
According to legal filings from a federal workers’ union on Thursday, plans are believed to be under way to terminate more than 95% of the bureau’s employees, in effect rendering it impossible for the agency to fulfill any of its statutory functions.
