Gov. Gavin Newsom taps ex-CFPB head for new consumer protection agency
Gov. Gavin Newsom plans to appoint former Consumer Financial Protection Bureau chief Rohit Chopra to lead the new California Business and Consumer Services Agency and crack down on corporate malfeasance.
Newsom announced last year that his administration planned to split the Business Consumer Services and Housing Agency into two agencies, which will go into effect July 1. The new state consumer services agency will focus on eradicating junk fees, increasing online privacy protections and overseeing oil companies, according to Newsom’s office.
The other agency will be the California Housing and Homelessness Agency.
“As the Trump administration turns its back on consumers, we need strong and fearless leaders to keep protecting Californians. Rohit Chopra has shown exactly that kind of leadership — taking bold action, standing up for working families and enforcing real consumer protections,” the governor said Tuesday. “I look forward to our ongoing partnership as we build on our work to protect families, hold bad actors accountable, and advance affordability across California.”
Politico first reported that Newsom planned to pick Chopra, a protege of Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass. The California Senate must approve Chopra’s appointment. He will earn $254,450 annually, according to Newsom’s office.
Chopra, who is currently a fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School, previously served as CFPB commissioner under President Joe Biden from 2021 to 2025. Before then, he served on the Federal Trade Commission and worked at consultancy McKinsey.
“While federal agencies are making life more expensive and enriching special interests, California will be firing on all cylinders to make sure markets aren’t rigged against families and small businesses,” Chopra said in a statement. “By bringing together dozens of boards, bureaus, and departments under one roof, California’s new agency will work to protect the public in health care, technology, financial services, and more. I’m grateful to Governor Newsom for the opportunity to serve as the new agency’s Secretary.”
