While only Congress can shutter the department, the president is reportedly considering executive action to severely scale back its responsibilities and staffing.
The White House says the federal employees union is doing its members a disservice by urging them not to resign with the promise of administrative leave until September.
The billionaire's campaign to radically upend federal agencies is stunning former White House officials, even in a political moment when many things are described as unprecedented.
The order came in response to a memo released by the Office of Management and Budget last week directing agencies to freeze funding for federal grants and other programs.
Rohit Chopra had led the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau since 2021. Consumer groups praised his leadership, while Republicans have frequently attacked the agency.
Trump has shown an affinity with many of the little guys — what he called in 2017 "the forgotten men and women." But he also has shown an affinity with some of the fattest cats of all.
The decision came in response to a petition by attorneys general in 22 states and Washington, D.C., seeking to block the administration's efforts to freeze payments for grants and other programs.