A Federal Worker Developed A Brain Tumor. The Trump Admin's Next Move Was Unspeakably Cruel. [View all]

When Helen Shaw found out in December that she needed to have a brain tumor removed, she emailed her employer, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, to ask about the agency’s short-term disability plan.

A human-resources representative for the watchdog agency told Shaw that the plan “likely will not be available” by the time she expected to have surgery in 2026. Sure enough, in January, all employees received the news in an email: Russell Vought, the CFPB’s acting director, was ending not only their disability plan but their dental and life insurance plans as well.

Shaw, a single mother, is now trying to decide what to do. A neurologist offering a second opinion told her she could wait and see if the tumor grows before proceeding with a craniotomy — a surgery where doctors would cut into her skull so they could remove the tumor. She had hoped the short-term disability plan would replace some of her lost income during a recovery that could last three months. Instead, she’s left wondering how she’d support her 9- and 4-year-old kids, one of whom has special needs, when she’s not supposed to walk down the stairs. She was recently quoted $11,000 per month for overnight care, and that was from someone offering her a break due to her circumstances.

She feels overwhelmed — and angry at what’s happened to her agency under President Donald Trump.

“Everything the administration has been doing with regard to the CFPB is illegal,” said Shaw, who clarified that she was speaking in her personal capacity. “From trying to shut down an agency that Congress created, down to my situation where they’re now coming for CFPB employees’ paychecks and health care and benefits.”

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/russell-vought-cfpb-cuts_n_697d1c86e4b0d9ba36c6b65c?origin=home-latest-news-unit

Russell Vought is an asshole---oh wait, assholes serve a useful function.