National Consumer Law Center

Consumer advocates are sounding the alarm over a wide-ranging proposal from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to change how decisions about federal funding are made. The result of these changes would subject all federal funding, including for basic programs like energy assistance, to a political litmus test and additional bureaucratic hurdles and red tape.

“This proposal risks harming the health and safety of the Black and Brown families and people with disabilities, who are at the greatest risk of energy insecurity and serious, even fatal, health complications from the lack of heating and cooling,” said Olivia Wein, senior attorney at the National Consumer Law Center. “We urge the OMB to reject these proposed revisions due to clear errors in procedure and potential harms to people in need.”

Sweeping Guidance for Federal Funding Alarms Advocates, As New Political Scrutiny Creates Uncertainty for Families Struggling with Unaffordable Energy Bills Consumer advocates are sounding the alarm over a wide-ranging proposal from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to change how decisions about federal funding are made.

After the CFPB began an initiative to tackle “junk fees” in 2022, profits that banks made off overdraft and NSF fees dropped by 24%.

Now, banks are back to about that same pre-pandemic levels. In 2025, banks took in about $12 billion from Americans by charging overdraft and NSF fees, according to a National Consumer Law Center report. Moneywise.com

Read the NCLC report: https://www.nclc.org/resources/the-12-billion-overdraft-trap/

Banks collected $12 billion in overdraft fees in 2025 after Congress reversed the $5 cap — here's how to avoid them Americans are losing billions every year to sky-high overdraft fees. Here’s what you can do about it.

As 2026 brings yet another year of above-normal temperatures for large swaths of the United States, lawmakers must protect at-risk populations from extreme heat and help them maintain access to essential utility service. While most states have disconnection moratoria for the winter months for both electric and gas utilities, only 19 states and Washington, D.C., have rules in place to prevent disconnections during extreme heat. This is particularly dangerous in sunbelt states that regularly experience extreme heat and humidity, such as Florida.

A new report from NCLC, Protecting Access to Essential Utility Service During Extreme Heat and Climate Change, outlines specific actions policymakers and regulators must take to address unaffordability and ensure that at-risk populations do not lose access to essential utility service.

Report Calls for Ban on Utility Disconnections During Extreme Heat Policymakers and regulators must make utility services more affordable and end disconnections in severe weather WASHINGTON – As 2026 brings yet another year of above-normal temperatures for large swaths of the United States, lawmakers must protect at-risk populations from extreme heat and help the...

Critics argue the latest changes are not in consumers’ best interest and may discourage people from submitting complaints.

"The Trump administration's CFPB, at the behest of the credit reporting companies, is deliberately creating barriers for people to report illegal and abusive actions by large financial companies," Diane Thompson, the deputy director and chief advocacy officer at NCLC. NerdWallet

It Just Got Harder to Make a Financial Complaint (And Get Relief) - NerdWallet The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has created new hurdles for Americans filing financial complaints.

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On July 1, 2026, a number of changes to student loan borrowers’ options will go into effect. How you are impacted by these changes depends on your situation —whether you’re currently in school, in repayment, or planning to borrow for school in the future. Parents who take out student loans for their children’s education will also be impacted.

This article discusses what you need to know and what options you’ll have after July 1, 2026.

What do the student loan changes on July 1, 2026 mean for me? - Student Loan Borrowers Assistance On July 1, 2026, a number of changes to student loan borrowers’ options will go into effect. How you are impacted by these changes depends on your situation —whether you’re …

The SAVE Plan was the most affordable student loan repayment option, and the U.S. Department of Education said there are 7.5 million borrowers enrolled in the plan.

Borrowers on the SAVE Plan will be transitioned into a more expensive standard or tiered standard repayment plan 90 days after they receive a notice from their loan servicer if they don’t enroll in another plan. Forbes

New Court Filing Aims To Keep Student Loan Borrowers From Being Automatically Transferred Off Of SAVE Plan—What Borrowers Should Know Borrowers on the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) Plan, an income-driven student loan repayment plan, will start receiving notices to switch plans starting July 1—but a new court filing wants to keep borrowers from being transitioned off it as long as possible. A motion filed June 23 by Pu

During the House Financial Services Committee markup, members are expected to vote on at least four pieces of legislation that would harm families living paycheck to paycheck and struggling with affordability and access to credit.

The so-called Earned Wage Access Consumer Protection Act (H.R. 9330), for one, does not protect consumers. Instead, it fuels the affordability crisis by protecting payday loan apps that take hundreds of dollars a year from low-wage workers and by exempting these high-cost loans from federal and state protections.

“With groceries, rent, and other necessities costing more than ever, Congress must not allow predatory lenders to disguise loans with sky-high interest rates as purportedly harmless ‘earned wage access’ products,” said Lauren Saunders, senior attorney at the National Consumer Law Center.

Congress Ignores Affordability Crisis With Legislation to Supercharge Predatory Lending and Boost Harmful Credit Reporting WASHINGTON – During the House Financial Services Committee markup on Tuesday, members are expected to vote on at least four pieces of legislation that would harm families living paycheck to paycheck and struggling with affordability and access to credit. If enacted, these bills would expand payday...

Student borrower advocacy groups worry that the payment increases will only make it harder on people already grappling with a surge in inflation, rising energy and food costs, and affordability gaps in housing and healthcare. They also warn it may drive some low-income and first-generation students to the private lending market, where they may face higher interest rates and have fewer protections against predatory lenders.

“Is this plan enough of a safety net for American families?” asked Kyra Taylor, a staff attorney at NCLC. “I think simplification is a good goal, but it has to be affordable to families. If it’s not, then we’re going to see an increase in borrowers who go into default.” NBC News

Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’ is bringing a big set of student loan changes Starting Wednesday, many student borrowers may tackle higher repayment requirements, fewer program options and greater loan limits.

About a quarter of people live in households that pay overdraft fees each year. The fees fall disproportionately on Black households, people with lower incomes, and people with limited education.

“With Congress and the Trump Administration reversing protection against abusive and unfair bank practices that multiply overdraft fees, some banks are seizing the opportunity to turn struggling families into a profit center,” said Lauren Saunders, senior attorney at the National Consumer Law Center. “While Washington turns its back on people struggling with the affordability crisis, state leaders must seize the opportunity to push back against predatory overdraft fee practices.” NJToday

Struggling families paid banks over $12 billion in overdraft & NSF fees in 2025 - NJTODAY.NET Since the Trump Administration and Congress’s decision to roll back limits on overdraft and nonsufficient funds (NSF) fees, many of the country’s largest banks have begun to ratchet up their overdraft fee take. Overall, struggling families paid over $12 billion in overdraft and NSF fees in 2025....